Fishing Grounds of the Gulf of Maine eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 160 pages of information about Fishing Grounds of the Gulf of Maine.

Fishing Grounds of the Gulf of Maine eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 160 pages of information about Fishing Grounds of the Gulf of Maine.

Matinic Bank.  This is an extension of the shore soundings that make out to the southward and eastward of Matinic a distance of 2 or 3 miles, with depths (outside of 1 1/2 miles) of 23 to 30 fathoms.  The bottom is level, consisting of rocks, pebbles, and gravel, and the ground abounds in cod in the season from March to June.  Just off the edge, in depths of from 40 to 50 fathoms, the bottom is soft mud, on which hake abound in summer.  Very few haddock are taken on this bank.  Halibut are sometimes abundant here in 10 to 15 fathoms during May and June.

Matinic Ooze.  This is a flat bottom, composed of ooze and shells, that makes off to the eastward of the Haddock Ledge and Shoal and bears about S. from Matinic.  The Haddock Shoal and the Ooze are really parts of one ground, though they have been given different names by the fishermen.  The Haddock Shoal (3 miles S. by B. from the Seal Ledge:  breaks in rough weather) is thought to be poor ground and is but little fished, although it is a fall haddock ground.  The Ooze falls off gradually, reaching a depth of 50 fathoms on the outer part.  It is considered fair fishing ground for cod and haddock in the spring and for cod and hake in the summer and fall.

Freemans Ground.  This ground lies 6 1/2 miles E. from Monhegan Island between Ornes Ground and Matinicus Western Ground.  It is 3 miles long and 1 mile wide and runs in a NE. and SW. direction.  There is a shoal on the southwest part having 20 fathoms over a sharp rocky bottom.  The rest of the ground has depths of 25 to 40 fathoms, the bottom of rocks, gravel, and shells, in some places uneven and in others smooth.  This is a good spring ground for cod and for cod, hake, and pollock in the fall.  Haddock are not numerous on this ground, though a few are usually to be found here in December.  Herring are here May to August.

Middle Shoal, Pollock Rip, Allens Shoal, and Deckers Shoal.  These are small rocky patches lying to eastward of Monhegan Island and northerly from the Outer Shoal.  They have depths from 6 to 30 fathoms over a sharp, rocky, and broken bottom.  Middle Shoal is 2 miles from the island.  Pollock Rip 1 1/2 miles.  Allens Shoal 1 1/4 miles, having 5 1/2 fathoms and breaking in rough weather; and Deckers Shoal 1 mile.  Depths vary here from 6 to 30 fathoms over a bottom generally sharp and rocky.  The principal fishing here is hand-lining for cod in the spring during the herring season and in the fall in “squid time”.  A few pollock are taken here also.

A number of small patches lie westerly from the Outer Shoal and close to Monhegan Island.  These are the Cusk Ground with a depth of 20 to 35 fathoms; Gull Rock Ledge (breaks in rough weather) 3 1/2 fathoms; Lobster Point Ground, 15 to 30 fathoms; Inner Spring Ground, 15 to 30 fathoms; Outer Spring Ground 25 to 30 fathoms.  All these are fished for cod nearly all the year, for haddock in December and January, and for pollock in early spring and late fall.  The Spring Grounds are near the harbor and so are fished before the others.  All are lobster grounds.  Small boats and vessels operate here.

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Fishing Grounds of the Gulf of Maine from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.