Cashes Bank.  Our older reports state that Cashes Bank was not then an important fishing ground except for a short time in the spring, although good fares were often taken there in the fall also.  The writer has found it furnishing at least its quota in recent years and in apparently increasing volume.  It bears E. 1/4 S. from Cape Ann (Thacher Island Light, from which point most skippers lay their course), from which its shoaler parts are distant 78 miles, and bears Se. 1/4 S. from Portland Lightship 69 miles to the buoy upon it, where is a depth of 17 fathoms; and 74 miles Se. 1/2 S. from Cape Elizabeth eastern light to the buoy.  The bank is about 22 miles long, from 42 deg. 49’ to 43 deg. 11’ north latitude, and about 17 miles wide, from 68 deg. 40’ to 69 deg. 03’ west longitude.  There are three small shoals upon its western part, of which the southern has a depth of 7 fathoms, the middle one has 4 fathoms, and the northern one has 11 fathoms.  The middle shoal lies in 42 deg. 56’ north latitude and 68 deg. 52’ west longitude.  From this the south shoal bears S. by E. and the north shoal NNE., each being 3 1/4 miles distant from it.  The water breaks on these in rough weather and, though of small extent, they are dangerous to passing vessels bound from Cape Sable to Massachusetts ports, across whose course they lie directly.  Except for these shoals, the water ranges from 15 to 60 fathoms.  The ground is more or less broken, and the bottom is of sand, pebbles, and rocks.

The principal fishing on these grounds is for cod, haddock, hake, and cusk; the cod and cusk are present the year around, the cod being most abundant in February, March. and April in an average depth of 60 fathoms.  The hake are found on the muddy edges in summer, with a lesser number present all the year.  Haddock are present in considerable numbers from November to February, and sometimes a good school occurs in 20-fathom depths in April.  The arrival of the dogfish usually puts a temporary ending to the fishing here in the last days of June or early In July, to be resumed again when these pests have moved inshore.  Formerly halibut were reported as seen rarely, but of late years they have been found among the kelp in 15 to 18 fathoms on the shoal nearly the year around, the fish ranging in size from 5 to 40 pounds, rarely larger.  Halibut of larger size are taken occasionally in fairly good numbers in 30 to 50 fathoms in May and June.  Perhaps this species is more abundant on this and neighboring grounds than is generally realized.  At all events, certain Portland vessels have recently taken good fares of halibut when fishing for them here in the season named.  Cusk are present in the deep water the year around.  As is the case with most of the detached ridges in this gulf, the cusk is the most abundant of the fish present about the middle of March. continuing in good numbers through May.  In herring years these fish usually occur in good numbers on this ground In late May, and a considerable number of these (food fish or large herring) are taken here by seiners at this season.  Mackerel are generally abundant on these grounds In those years when these fish occur In normal quantities on this coast.