Fishing Grounds of the Gulf 1 10

It seems to not be stopped at much during the cold months, though seemingly there is no reasons
why this ought not to be an all-the-year minn kota components ground. It furnishes, nonetheless, a
very good summer time handline fishery for cod at dogfish time, and in the spring a few months it
abounds in cod, cusk, and hake, all minn kota parts of huge size.
Roseway Bank. This bank is placed N. of the western component of La Have and SE. of Shelbourne
Light, Nova Scotia: 31 miles SSE. from the whistling buoy away from Lockport, Nova Scotia, on the
southeastern side. It is oblong in shape and also small degree--about 270 square geographical miles.
Its greatest span is 21 miles as well as its greatest breadth 15 kilometers. It runs from 43? 12' to 43?
33' north latitude, and from 64? 25' to 64? 52' western side longitude and at the northwest corner is
connected with the shore restrict of 60 fathoms by way of a narrow neck area. Depths come from 33
to 48 fathoms. The bottom is offine sand and pea gravel, and rocks; on the Northeast Optimum the
bottom is of discolored mud and gravel.
The push and route of they are both much affected by the winds, although currents in this region
usually are not nearly so strong as about Cape Sable and Browns Bank, their general direction being
WSW. and ENE the westerly much the stronger.
The principal minn kota parts taken allow me to sharehaddock and cod, and cusk, but hake, pollock
and halibut occur, the very best fishing months getting from May to October, when the lender is
resorted to by craft from western Nova Scotia. Several New Britain craft also fish here.
La Have Bank. Situated eastward of Browns Bank and S. and E. of Roseway Bank. It extends from
42? 34' to 43? 26' to the north latitude a distance of 52 miles, and from 63? 50' to 65? 07' western
longitude a distance of about 54 kilometers. The bank is nearly divided into two portions, in which
the eastern (La Have Bank suitable) extends N and S. 39 kilometers and the traditional western
portion practically E. and W. about 35 a long way. The total section of the bank is about 1,200 miles.
The base is largely coarsepebbles and pea gravel, and rock, with small areas of sand distributed
from time to time. Depths manage from 40 to 50 fathoms. The general set of the currents is usually
to the westward, but this is much affected by the force and course of the blowing wind and is
generally quite strong during easterly blows.
The principal fishing upon this bank in the past has been for haddock and cod: and while previous
reports, (1881) speak of this as experiencing once been a favorite sport fishing terrain for halibut
and state that it was not at time of much importance in that fishery, the figures for this ground for
your year 1923 show the halibut capture to have been third in volume and first in value of the
species taken there. In fact, the find of halibut here can make quite an imposing figure when the
relatively small scale of the ground is recognized as.
Little Los angeles Have as well as the La Have Ridges are just continuations with this back in the
direction of the European Bank for the distance of about 45 miles. This spots the eastern limit in
about 62? 50' west longitude, the upper and the southern area of boundaries being about as those of
Los angeles Have Lender. The area of the ridges is around 1,575 miles. The bottom here is a
succession of ridges of pebbles and gravel with occasional areas of stones. Depths are from 53 to 80
fathoms. The current, from time to time strong, is weaker in this article than even farther W. in the
bank and, except while in easterly winds, is but little seen. The general established is westerly.
"The Ridges" says the report just before mentioned, "were for a variety of years one of the favorite
accommodations for halibut catchers in the wintertime, and many very good catches of cod have
been taken right here at that time of year. At present but few halibut are found except within the
deep water along the southern edge of the ground, where they sometimes have been discovered
quite plentiful during almost the entire year." Obviously there is not much change in these problems
since the writer's time; seafood are present here In about the same quantities as in past years.
One piece of base, having depths of 25 to 50 fathoms over red clay-based, lying approximately in 43?
08' to 43? 10' north latitude and about 81? to 83? west longitude, seems an effective spring and
early summer season ground. Obviously red-clay base indicates a great halibut floor, as this species
is usually present where this type of bottom can be found.
Hake are normally found in excellent numbers from the deep water about the edges of the terrain
and even on the Ridges.
These waters can be heavily fished from Canadian ports, plus a fair quantity of American vessels
visit them each year, many of them hailing from Boston or Gloucester.
Scandinavian Bank. Eighteen miles SSW. from Shelbourne Light. Nova Scotia. It really is about 3
miles lengthy in an E. and W. direction by about ? mile wide. In general, the bottom is level, with
depths from 50 to 70 fathoms; the shoal parts are sharp and rocky, the bottom over the deeper
portions being made up mostly of small black color and discolored pebbles.
This can be a summer halibut ground (July and August) in depths from 45 to 60 fathoms, and halibut
occur in October in the deeper waters regarding it. It is also a reasonable summer cod ground, and
cusk exist in the deep water regarding the edges throughout most of the year. In types, general and
seasons are generally as on Roseway.
Western Bank. This is one of the most essential minn kota components grounds in the western
Atlantic, whether as regards sizing or the great quantity of its merchandise. It is placed S. of Cape
Breton Island and also the eastern element of Nova Scotia between the parallels of 42? 55' and 44?
46' north latitude and the meridians of 59? 62 and 04'? 35' west longitude. It has a period of 156 mls
and a breadth, including the Middle Ground, of 76 a long way. It is about 420 kilometers E. ? S. from
Boston to the southwestern edge, which suggests about 48 hours' steaming for the otter-trawl fleet.
The normal contour of the bank within the 65-fathom range, as placed down on the Admiralty graph
or chart, approaches fairly a very elongated ellipse, the longer axis working NE. by E. and SW. by
W.; but over a large area to eastward of the center of the lender, soundings of less than 50 fathoms
hook it up directly with all the Middle Ground, which we have now here included in the some lender.
The total level of the banking institution thus described is about 7,000 square geographical a long
way. Off its eastern conclusion lies Banquereau (the Quereau of the anglers) with The Gully
between, along with a short range of the traditional western edge are definitely the La Have Ridges.
The depths off the southern fringe of the bank improve rapidly from 80 to700 and 1,200, and in
many cases 1,400 fathoms. On the eastern stop is Sable Island, [16] "graveyard of vessels", anarrow
and extended, crescent-shaped height seemingly lowering in region each year, established entirely
of sand which has been blown Into innumerable dunes and hummocks. Away both stops of the isle
are very long and harmful yellow sand bars. The duration of the island is 20 a long way; its very best
width is around 1? miles. It is said that the Northwest Lighting has been relocated three times
mainly because that the european end in the island is literally blown away. It is based on an E. and
W. direction, and also the depth water over the cafes for a range of 7 to 10 miles out does not
surpass 2 fathoms, and even 10 miles further out the depths do not go over 10 to 11 fathoms. Within
recent years fishermen have reported the appearance of a fine sand shoal about 5 or 6 kilometers
SE. from your Northeast Gentle. This is said to appear at low h2o.
In general, the bank slopes S. and W. from the island, depths which range from 18 to 60 fathoms.
The bottom is usually sandy with patches of gravel and pebbles. Currents are sometimes very strong
about Sable Tropical isle and are fairly irregular; seemingly they are significantly influenced by the
winds. Around the other parts of the bank typically there is but little existing, whatever there is
certainly usually tending toward the west.
Formerly the cod and halibut were the food fishes most taken in this article, but with the changed
strategies in the fishery (as the expansion of the otter-trawl fleet) plus a changed flavor in our open
public the haddock catch is considered the second most critical in the statements of minn kota parts
from all of these waters. The halibut fishery stands 3rd in the collection. Other bottom part feeders
happen in less phone numbers, the pollock and the cusk perhaps becoming next as a way of
relevance, with hake and a considerable amount of the various flatfishes in the otter trawls. These
latter are marketed as sole.
Mentioning the tiny amount of haddock from the fares obtained from these oceans in previous years,
the writer asked a number of old-time anglers as to its abundance in the past. The answer was
usually yes and Oh, there was always haddock there; often they concerned us a great deal." Then,
noting my surprise at so getting it, "You know, the haddock isn't much as being a salt fish."
It will be noted that in 1923 the haddock find here was a very good next to the cod catch in
poundage, however not so important proportionately. In the otter-trawl catch using this ground it
will probably be noted the positions of these two species are reversed. These steamers certainly
consider more than 2 pounds of haddock to 1 of cod on other offshore grounds--perhaps the result of
running in the shoaler waters and also on the smoother bottom because of the difficulty of dragging
over the rocky and kelp-covered terrain, which the cod seems to prefer, as a rule. Nevertheless the
bottom around the Western Financial institution is of those nature regarding offer very little
obstruction on the passage in the net, to ensure virtually all parts of it may be fished by this
approach; and this, put into the known movements of your cod schools makes it probable at
particular seasons of year to catch a more substantial proportion with this species if it is so ideal.
Haddock are found concerning the bars at both ends of the tropical island in March and from that
time to around June 1 in from 15 to 22 fathoms. They are also plentiful 18 mls W. from your
Northwest Light-weight at the exact same seasons and also at the same depths. DuringApril and
May, and June they come in next to the island in from 10 to 17 fathoms--even going to 1 fathom.
Through all of those other year (aside from the colder months, when they have moved away into
deeper water) they could be found all around the bank on sandy base in 28 to 30 fathoms, where
most of the beam trawl angling is carried on.
There exists a good cod school annually on the relatively level underside along the european and
southwestern edges of the soil in 70 fathoms and a lot more from Feb 1 to May 1, and in most years
a certain amount of this kinds is taken on this area. In May this school may have moved on to a piece
of underside about 20 miles extended lying SW. from the Northwest Light and achieving depths
averaging 27 fathoms. With reasonable minn kota pieces for cod on the Traditional western Bank
throughout most of the year, they seem to be most abundant from the first of March to June.
Apparently this species sessions this terrain in substantial numbers in the spawning season, though
the wintertime school right here appears to be smaller compared to that on Georges. In winter the
cod are mainly located upon the western portion of the bank, moving into the shoaler waters to
Sable Island as the early spring advances (while in March and April), the "Flex" of your island as
well as the neighborhood of the bars in 2 to 4 fathoms, where they are often seen using the hook or
can be "jigged." being beloved grounds. The ground lying W. from the North west about, on and
Light the Northwest Bar (18 miles W, from the gentle), is a beloved cod soil in June and may even.
The shoal water across the rocky bottom part WNW through the Northwest Light furnishes excellent
cod fishing from June 10 to July 1. This piece begins just outside the 3-mile stretch of breakers
running out from the land and extends offshore in a normally westerly path to 24 fathoms. A lot
hand-lining is completed here.
From the shoal water, in Apr and May, the fish seem to be serving on the "lant," (Ammodytes
americanus). It is said the fish taken on the bottom close to the island are smaller compared to those
located farther west. The shoal water in the northern shoreline of the isle is said to have good cod
grounds and favorite locations for "dory hands-lining." The cod schools seem to get there on the
Northern Peak (SE. from the Northeast Light 40 miles to SE ? S. from exact same point 28 miles) at
the end of March as well as the first of April, shifting N. and W. to the island. The cod of Sable Isle
are said to be fine, business fish, perhaps because of the abundance of your "reddish colored clams"
(bank clams) on these grounds.
The haddock and cod fishery is carried on by American and Canadian sailing vessels and otter
trawlers, a lot more English and French vessels of the latter class engaging in the fishery of this
terrain each year.
Halibut are found on the Western Banking institution virtually all the entire year at depths varying
with all the seasons. This, with The Gully and Quereau--in fact, all one bit of ground--stands second
just to the Fantastic Bank Itself, as a halibut bank. The most effective fishing here for halibut is
found from January to October. There are various places about and on the bank that the halibut
seems to favor, as the Top of Pike, 85 miles W. by S. through the Northwest Gentle of Sable Island;
S. and SW. of Sable Island from 12 to 38 miles; SW. 20 miles in 60 fathoms in May possibly; thence
out into 150 and 100 fathoms in June; in fact, using the 100--fathom curve along the edge of this
bank, beyond the Northeast Maximum (40 mls SE. through the Northeast Light), into the Gully and
around the The southern area of Prong of Quereau towards the Middle Prong. Apparently they leave
this piece of bottom in July. Where the drinking water is so shoal that they can be seen taking the
lure or playing with the hook before taking, frequently the fish are near to the island early in the
year. InApril and May, and June a good halibut ground is within 18 fathoms 24 mls WNW. from Sable
Isle.
The Western Bank appear to be a good feeding ground for cod and halibut mainly because it
abounds in shellfish and crustaceans, as well as at certain times there are many smaller sized
species of minn kota parts with it, for example the lant and herring, on what these varieties and the
haddock, also, especially prey. Plenty of swordfish is taken within September and August, mainly by
American vessels.
Banquereau. Segregated from the American Bank by The Gully, it has a very unusual form--the main
bank approximately rectangular, using a narrow westerly extension of comparatively regular form.
Its length, E. and W., is about 120 miles, its greatest breadth about 47 miles, along with its total
place about 2,800 miles.
The main portion of the bank lies involving 44? 45 and 04'? 01' north latitude and 67? 10' and 59?
00' western side longitude, and the western prolongation lies among 44? 24' and 44? 42' north
latitude and 69? 80 and 00'? 05' western longitude. Northern of Banquereau lies Artimon, distant 3
miles, and Misaine, far-away from 2 to 15 miles in line with the places from where measurements
are taken. If any current, the currents allow me to share of diverse force, significantly influenced by
the wind, to ensure several days of strong tides may be followed by intervals if you have little.
In the eastern component of Quereau is definitely an area of shoal ground referred to as Rocky Base,
having a range of about 18 fathoms; in other places depths work from 18 to 50 fathoms. You can find
scattered sections of fine sand and pea gravel, even though in most cases the bottom is rocky.
Cod and halibut are the principal food fish haddock, hake and taken and cusk being consumed small
phone numbers. The Difficult Bottom, a shoal terrain of 20 to 25 fathom depths on the eastern part,
was much resorted to by dory handliners in summer time. Occasional excellent fares are taken
toward the west, even though the cod are most plentiful around the eastern section of the bank. The
very best cod sportfishing on this bank is produced by May till September, once the schools
accumulate to feed on the lant, squid, crustaceans, and shellfish, then very abundant.
Halibut are found on this page all the year off the ends in 100 to 400 fathoms. Obviously these are
breeding and feeding reasons for this kinds, and it is not unusual for a school to keep for weeks and
even weeks in one locality, though a number of these may be fish in migration northward.
The principal halibut grounds are down the eastern and the southern part of borders from the bank-
-the Southwest Prong and the South west Cove (in approximately 44? N. lat. and between 58? 58 and
30'? 55' W. long), the Middle Prong (44? 14' N. lat. and 58? W. long.), and also the Eastern Slope
(44? 28' to 45? 00' N. lat.)--in depths of 150 to 400 fathoms. These deeply-drinking water areas are
rocky and support an extremely rich growth ofcorals and gorgonians, sea anemones, etc. The
Eastern Slope has a good amount of bank clams in depths of 25 fathoms. These beds are great hand-
line reasons for cod. The halibut, too, rss feeds to a substantial extent on these reddish colored
clams.
The Stone Fence off the eastern slope of Quereau is a very rocky part of ground packed with "trees"
(corals) in 250 fathoms. This is an excellent halibut floor although it is almost impossible to haul the
gear manually and using the "gurdy" (a roller turned by way of a crank and fastened to the dory's
bow for winding the trawl) will become necessary. The occasional fares of halibut are taken on and
about the Rocky Base in 20 to 25 fathoms from July 1 to August 1.
The Gully. Here is the deep waterway between Banquereau and Sable Island or Western Bank. It
stretches in an WNW. and an ESE. direction north of Sable Island, turning somewhat suddenly S. at
its eastern end and continuing downward between the eastern end of Western Banking institution
and the Southwest Prong of Banquereau. The whole length is around 80 mls, the greatest size about
20 miles. Depths range from 68 to 145 fathoms over a bottom of sand, stones and gravel and mud.
The difficult and gravelly portions develop several ridges separated by areas of better materials,
besides in the eastern section, the location where the intervals among are mostly included in
pebbles and sharp stones. Ocean currents are generally westerly, of diverse strength, a lot affected
by the easterly winds.
The Gully is a very significant halibut terrain. The halibut are not present in great figures all over
the floor, perhaps the very best of the sport fishing becoming on the difficult and gravelly slopes and
ridges included in between the meridians of 69? and 80? western longitude. This rocky base is
abundant in food, as well as the lant and herring are generally plentiful here in their period. In the
spring the halibut appear to be especially quite a few in the northwestern and northern elements of
the bank, afterwards, in June and July, moving further out. Some, are found within winter. It does
not seem to be of regular incidence; and evidently there are virtually no haddock on this page,
probably because of the depth of the water and the nature in the bottom, whilst the cod may also be
found in The Gully in 60 to 90 fathoms.
Artimon Bank. Has an area of some 120 rectangular miles by using a bottom of rocks and pea
gravelrocks and depths of 38 to 50 fathoms. It really is but little known because of the habit of the
fishermen to use the bigger grounds close up at hand. Cod are known to be present in this article,
however. The bank lies N. of the eastern part of Quereau, separated from it by a filter, deep-water
route.
Misaine Lender. In general financial institutions are separated by some 20 a long way of strong
water, despite the fact that lies N. of the european two-thirds of Quereau, at one location very in
close proximity to. Its very best length is 80 miles and its best width 40 miles. Depths are from 40 to
60 fathoms spanning a bottom broken and difficult. It is not of great importance and importance as a
fishing ground, though a few halibut trips are landed from using it in most years.
Canso Financial institution. A long, narrow extension of Misaine Financial institution, lying within an
E, and W. direction; its size is 45 miles and its greatest breadth 13 miles, its location being about
425 sq miles. Depths range from 30 to 65 fathoms across a bottom of sand, with spots of gravel and
pebbles. It is not necessarily of much importance as a minn kota parts terrain, especially as judged
by means of it by the American fleet, though far more fished by vessels from Nova Scotia; perhaps it
is overshadowed by the presence of its larger neighbors, Western and Quereau Banking institutions,
with which reasons it varieties virtually a single piece of base, only thin, deep-water stations
separating them. These larger reasons are intensely fished the two by United states vessels and also
by those from Nova Scotia ports as well as by French and British otter trawlers.
The figures given in this article and somewhere else in this particular report are taken from the
published bulletins of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, and include only the landings of vessels
of 5 loads net, or over, at the ports of Boston and Glouscester, Mass., and Portland, Me.
[Table 5--Sport fishing grounds of the offshore To the north Atlantic, exhibiting the principal types
taken after them]
[Footnote 16: "Pedro Reinel, a Portuguese pilot of much fame" (Herrera) made a map in 1505
exhibiting Sable Island, feared and dreaded by all fishermen even in those days, exactly where he
referred to as it "Santa Cruz." Jacamo Gastaldi, an Italian cartographer, in 1548 shows it "Isolla de
Market." Sir Humphrey Gilbert or his historian, says that the Portuguese had manufactured an
interesting settlement here for shipwrecked mariners. This, "After intelligence we had of your
Portugal who has been himself present when the Portugals, above thirty years past (thus just before
1551) performed put with the island great and swine to breed of dog, which were considering that
exceedingly increased."]
TABLES OF CATCH
[Table 6--Distance from Boston or Gloucester, Size., to the centre of certain in the more important
offshore banks]
[Desk 7--Extended distance from Portland, Me., to the center of certain of the more important
offshore banks]
[Table 8--Landings by fishing vessels at Gloucester and Boston, Mass., and Portland, Me., from inner
or shoreline grounds, 1927]
[Table 9--Landings by minn kota elements vessels at Gloucester and Boston, Mass., and Portland,
Me., from the exterior grounds of the Gulf of Maine, 1927]
[Table 10--Landings by minn kota components vessels at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and
Portland, Me., from the angling reasons of the Georges Bank location, 1927]
[Dinner table 11--Landings by the otter-trawl fleet at Gloucester and Boston, Mass., and Portland,
Me., from the minn kota parts reasons of the Georges Bank location, 1927]