Fire Ground.  This ground is E. by S. from the lightship 10 miles.  It is a ridge of rocky and gravelly bottom having depths of 35 to 50 fathoms.  Its length is 2 miles and its width 1 mile.

Cod and cusk are here the year around, the cod being most abundant in the spring.  Haddock are here in February and March:  hake are in the deep water on the edges in summer.  Fishing here is by hand line, trawl, and gill nets operated by small boats and vessels, the larger craft visiting this ground mostly in the winter, when offshore grounds may not permit of the fishing because of weather conditions.  Marks:  Bradbury Mountain on Jaquish:  Long Reach Mountain (in Quahog Bay) just to westward of Wooded Mark Island, “the length of an oar.”

Cod Ledges.  These are a succession of rocky patches extending 4 1/2 miles in an ENE. and WSW. direction, with a width of about 1/2 mile.  The southwestern end bears Se. 3/4 S. from Portland Head Light. distant 4 3/4 miles.  The northwestern extremity lies 6 or 7 miles ESE. from Portland Head light.  The shoalest parts have from 14 to 18 feet of water (Bulwark Shoal:  the eastern is Round Shoal).  On other parts the depths vary from 5 to 22 fathoms.  The bottom is irregular, of rocks and gravel.  A favorite small-boat ground for fishermen from Portland and neighboring islands.  This is a cod ground the year around and a winter haddock ground.

In June and July a few halibut are taken in 14 to 18 fathoms on the sandy patches between the ledges.  We are told “Very many large halibut are sometimes taken in some seasons in this small area.  Sid Doughty. a local small-boat fisherman, had $300 worth from half his gear for one day’s fishing here, being obliged to leave the rest of his gear until the next day from his weariness in handling the heavy fish alone.”

Hue and Cry Bottom.  This ground lies W. 1/2 mile from the Portland Lightship.  It is about 2 1/2 miles long by 1 1/2 miles wide and extends in a generally N. and S. direction.  The bottom is mainly rocks, though there is a sandy area lying inside it.  Depths are from 4 fathoms, where is a buoy and where it breaks in heavy weather, to some 35 fathoms over much of the rest of the ground.  Cod and haddock are found here In the spring, and cod, haddock, and cusk in the fall months.

The Pasture.  It lies ESE. from the lightship 10 miles:  south from The Cow (Small Point) 12 miles.  This ground is 4 or 5 miles long by 2 1/2 miles wide.  It has depths of from 45 to 80 fathoms over a bottom of broken ground, rocks, and mud.  It is a cod ground the year around but is best in spring.  Cusk also are here the year around.  Haddock usually are plentiful during January, February, and March.  Inside the Pasture (about 10 miles S. from The Cow) lies the Fire Ground, mentioned elsewhere.