Fishing Grounds of the Gulf 1 10

It seems to never be frequented much in the winter, though evidently there is no reason why this
must not be an all-the-calendar year minn kota elements ground. It furnishes, nonetheless, a very
good summer time handline fishery for cod at dogfish time, and in the spring weeks it abounds in
cod, cusk, and hake, all minn kota components of large size.
Roseway Bank. This bank is situated N. in the western component of La Have and SE. of Shelbourne
Light, Nova Scotia: 31 miles SSE. from the whistling buoy off Lockport, Nova Scotia, towards the
southeastern side. It is oblong in shape as well as small extent--about 270 square geographical
miles. Its greatest size is 21 miles as well as its greatest breadth 15 miles. It stretches from 43? 12'
to 43? 33' north latitude, and from 64? 25' to 64? 52' western side longitude and at the north west
corner is connected with the shore reduce of 60 fathoms with a narrow neck. Depths are from 33 to
48 fathoms. The bottom is ofgravel and sand, and rocks; around the Northeast Peak the bottom is of
yellowish pea gravel and dirt.
The pressure and route of both of these are much influenced by the wind, although currents in this
region are not nearly so strong as about Cape Sable and Browns Bank, their general route being
WSW. and ENE the westerly much the stronger.
Hake, halibut and pollock occur, the ideal minn kota parts months getting from May possibly to
October, when the financial institution is resorted to by craft from western Nova Scotia, while the
principal minn kota parts taken here arehaddock and cod, and cusk. A couple of New Britain craft
also minn kota pieces here.
La Have Banking institution. Situated eastward of Browns Bank and S. and E. of Roseway Bank. It
extends from 42? 34' to 43? 26' north latitude a distance of 52 mls, and from 63? 50' to 65? 07' west
longitude a distance of about 54 miles. The bank is almost divided into two portions, in which the
eastern (La Have Bank proper) extends N and S. 39 kilometers and the traditional western portion
practically E. and W. about 35 kilometers. The total part of the bank is approximately 1,200 miles.
The base is largely coarsepebbles and gravel, and rock and roll, with small areas of yellow sand
distributed here and there. Depths work from 40 to 50 fathoms. The typical set of the currents would
be to the westward, but this is certainly much affected by the pressure and path of the blowing wind
and is normally quite powerful during easterly blows.
The main minn kota pieces upon this bank in the past has been for haddock and cod: and while
former reports, (1881) speak of this as having once been a favorite minn kota parts terrain for
halibut and declare that it was not at time of much importance because fishery, the figures with this
ground for your year 1923 show the halibut capture to have been third in volume and first in value of
the species undertaken there. In reality, the get of halibut here helps make quite an imposing figure
when the somewhat small size of the ground is regarded as.
Little La Have along with the La Have Ridges are just continuations with this back in the direction of
the Western Bank for the distance of about 45 miles. This spots the eastern limit in about 62? 50'
west longitude, the upper and the southern part of boundaries becoming about as those of Los
angeles Have Lender. The part of the ridges is all about 1,575 miles. The bottom here is a succession
of ridges of gravel and pebbles with occasional spots of rocks. Depths are from 53 to 80 fathoms.
The current, sometimes strong, is weaker on this page than a greater distance W. in the bank and,
except in the course of easterly wind, is but little noticed. The general set is westerly.
"The Ridges" says the report well before mentioned, "were for many years one of many favorite
accommodations for halibut catchers in the winter months, and many excellent catches of cod were
actually taken at that period. At present but few halibut are caught except from the deep drinking
water along the the southern area of edge of the earth, where they sometimes have been found quite
plentiful during virtually the entire year." Seemingly there is not much alteration of these problems
since the writer's time; species of fish are present in about the same levels as in previous years.
A single piece of bottom part, having depths of 25 to 50 fathoms more than red clay-based, lying
around in 43? 08' to 43? 10' north latitude and about 81? to 83? west longitude, seems a good spring
and early summer ground. Apparently red-clay underside indicates an excellent halibut ground, as
this types is usually present where this type of bottom can be found.
Hake are located in very good numbers in the deep normal water about the ends of the ground and
even around the Ridges.
These waters are very heavily fished from Canadian ports, plus a fair variety of American vessels
visit them each year, many of them hailing from Boston or Gloucester.
Scandinavian Bank. 18 miles SSW. from Shelbourne Light. Nova Scotia. It is actually about 3 miles
long in an E. and W. direction by about ? distance wide. On the whole, the bottom is level, with
depths from 50 to 70 fathoms; the shoal parts are sharp and rocky, the bottom over the deeper
amounts being created mostly of small black and yellow pebbles.
This is a summer halibut ground (August and July) in depths from 45 to 60 fathoms, and halibut
occur in October in the deeper waters regarding this. It is also a fair summer cod ground, and cusk
can be found in the strong water regarding the edges throughout most of the calendar year. In
common, seasons and species tend to be as on Roseway.
Traditional western Bank. This is one of the most critical minn kota components grounds of your
western Atlantic, whether as regards sizing or the large quantity of its item. It is placed S. of Cape
Breton Island and the eastern element of Nova Scotia between the parallels of 42? 55' and 44? 46'
north latitude along with the meridians of 59? 04' and 62? 35' west longitude. It has a period of 156
mls and a width, including the Middle Ground, of 76 a long way. It is about 420 mls E. ? S. from
Boston to the southwestern edge, meaning about 48 hours' steaming for the otter-trawl fleet.
The overall contour of your bank within the 65-fathom range, as put down on the Admiralty chart,
approaches somewhat a very elongated ellipse, the longer axis working NE. by E. and SW. by W.;
but over a extensive area to eastward of the center of your budget, soundings of less than 50
fathoms connect it directly using the Middle Terrain, which we certainly have here within the some
bank. The total magnitude of the lender thus outlined is about 7,000 rectangular geographical
kilometers. Off its eastern conclusion lies Banquereau (the Quereau of the anglers) with The Gully
between, plus a short distance of the european edge will be the La Have Ridges.
The depths off the southern side of the bank increase rapidly from 80 to700 and 1,200, and also
1,400 fathoms. In the eastern end is Sable Island, [16] "graveyard of ships", along and narrow,
crescent-shaped elevation seemingly minimizing in region each year, created entirely of sand that
has been blown Into innumerable hummocks and dunes. Off both ends of the tropical island are very
long and dangerous yellow sand bars. The length of the island is 20 a long way; its finest width is
about 1? miles. It is said how the Northwest Gentle has been relocated three times because of the
fact that the western end in the island is literally amazed. It is in an E. and W. direction, and the
depth of water over the pubs for a range of 7 to 10 miles out does not surpass 2 fathoms, and even
10 miles farther out the depths do not go over 10 to 11 fathoms. Within the past few years fishermen
have reported the look of a yellow sand shoal about 5 or 6 a long way SE. through the Northeast
Lighting. This is thought to appear at low normal water.
In general, the lender slopes S. and W. from the isle, depths including 18 to 60 fathoms. The bottom
is generally sandy with patches of gravel and pebbles. Currents are often very strong about Sable
Island and are somewhat irregular; apparently they are significantly influenced by the winds. On the
other parts in the bank typically there is but little existing, whatever there is certainly usually
tending toward the west.
Earlier the cod and halibut were the foodstuff fishes most taken on this page, but with the changed
methods in the fishery (as the development of the otter-trawl fleet) and a changed style in our
community the haddock catch is one of the second most critical in the statements of fish from all of
these waters. The halibut fishery stands next in the collection. Other underside feeders exist in less
amounts, the pollock and the cusk perhaps becoming next as a way of significance, with hake and a
great deal of the various flatfishes in the otter trawls. These latter are marketed as sole.
Remembering the tiny amount of haddock from the fares taken from these waters in previous years,
the author asked numerous old-time fishermen as to its abundance in the past. The response was
generally yes and Oh, there have been always haddock there; often they bothered us a great deal."
Then, noting my surprise at so adding it, "You know, the haddock isn't much being a salt minn kota
parts."
Not too valuable proportionately, though it will probably be noted that in 1923 the haddock catch in
this article was a really good second on the cod find in poundage. In the otter-trawl catch with this
ground it will be noted that the positions of these two species are reversed. These steamers certainly
acquire more than 2 pounds of haddock to 1 of cod on other overseas grounds--maybe the result of
functioning in the shoaler waters and so on the smoother bottom due to difficulty of dragging across
the rocky and kelp-covered floor, which the cod seems to prefer, as a rule. If it is so desired,
although the bottom about the Western Banking institution is of such nature concerning offer tiny
obstruction towards the passage of your net, to ensure that virtually all parts of it may be fished by
this approach; and this, added to the known movements from the cod universities makes it probable
at certain seasons of the year to catch a more substantial proportion of the species.
Haddock are found regarding the bars at both comes to an end of the tropical island in Mar and from
that time to about June 1 in from 15 to 22 fathoms. They are also plentiful 18 miles W. through the
Northwest Light at the same seasons and also at the same depths. DuringApr and May, and June
they come in near to the island in from 10 to 17 fathoms--even going to 1 fathom. Through the rest of
the year (apart from the colder months, if they have moved off of into deeper water) they may be
found throughout the bank on sandy underside in 28 to 30 fathoms, where most of the ray trawl
minn kota parts is carried on.
You will find a good cod school each year on the comparatively level bottom along the western and
southwestern sides of the ground in 70 fathoms and more from Feb . 1 to May 1, and in most years a
certain amount of this types is taken on this area. In May this school offers moved on to a piece of
underside about 20 miles very long lying SW. from the Northwest Light and achieving depths
averaging 27 fathoms. With acceptable minn kota parts for cod on the European Bank while in most
of the season, they seem to be most abundant from the first of March to June. Apparently this
species visits this terrain in significant numbers through the spawning season, though the
wintertime school in this article appears to be small compared to that on Georges. In winter the cod
are mainly identified upon the western section of the bank, moving into the shoaler waters towards
Sable Island as the early spring advances (throughout March and April), the "Bend" of your island as
well as the neighborhood of the bars in 2 to 4 fathoms, where they could be seen using the hook or
can be "jigged." being favored grounds. The earth lying W. from the North west Light, about and on
the North west Bar (18 miles W, from the light-weight), is a favorite cod soil in May and June. The
shoal water within the rocky bottom part WNW from your Northwest Gentle furnishes great cod
minn kota parts from June 10 to July 1. This piece will begin just outside the 3-mile expand of
breakers running right out of the land and extends offshore in a usually westerly course to 24
fathoms. Much hand-lining is performed here.
In the shoal h2o, in April and May, the fish seem to be feeding on the "lant," (Ammodytes
americanus). It is said that the fish taken at the base close to the tropical isle are small compared to
those located farther west. The shoal water of your northern shoreline of the tropical isle is said to
get good cod grounds and favorite areas for "dory hands-coating." The cod colleges seem to arrive
on the North Peak (SE. from the Northeast Light 40 miles to SE ? S. from same point 28 miles) at the
end of March and also the first of April, transferring N. and W. towards the island. The cod of Sable
Tropical isle are said to be fine, company fish, perhaps due to the abundance of the "red-colored
clams" (bank clams) on these grounds.
The cod and haddock fishery is carried on by American and Canadian cruising otter and vessels
trawlers, a lot more English and French vessels of the second option class engaging in the fishery of
this soil each year.
Halibut are found on the Western Bank virtually all the year at depths varying with the seasons.
Being a halibut banking institution, this, using the Gully and Quereau--in reality, all 1 piece of soil-
-ranks second only to the Grand Lender Itself. The best fishing here for halibut is found from January
to October. There are numerous places about and on your budget that the halibut seems to choose,
as the Optimum of Pike, 85 kilometers W. by S. from the Northwest Light-weight of Sable Island; S.
and SW. of Sable Island from 12 to 38 mls; SW. 20 miles in 60 fathoms in Could; thence out into 150
and 100 fathoms in June; in fact, after the 100--fathom curve along the edge of this bank, beyond the
Northeast Peak (40 mls SE. from your Northeast Gentle), into the Gully and around the The southern
area of Prong of Quereau to the Middle Prong. Apparently they leave this piece of underside in July.
Often the sea food are close to the tropical isle in the spring, in which the water is indeed shoal that
they could be seen using the bait or playing with the hook before you take. InMight and April, and
June a good halibut ground is within 18 fathoms 24 miles WNW. from Sable Tropical island.
The American Bank appear to be a good serving ground both for cod and halibut mainly because it
abounds in shellfish and crustaceans, as well as at certain periods there are many more compact
species of species of fish on it, like the lant and herring, on which these kinds and the haddock, also,
specially prey. A considerable amount of swordfish is taken in Sept and August, mainly by American
vessels.
Banquereau. Segregated from the Traditional western Bank by The Gully, this has a very unnatural
form--the principle bank close to rectangular, by using a narrow westerly extension of comparatively
normal form. Its length, E. and W., is about 120 miles, its greatest breadth about 47 miles, and its
particular total place about 2,800 miles.
The key portion of the lender lies involving 44? 04' and 45? 01' north latitude and 67? 59 and 10'?
00' western longitude, and also the western prolongation lies among 44? 24' and 44? 42' north
latitude and 69? 80 and 00'? 05' to the west longitude. Northern of Banquereau lies Artimon, distant
3 miles, and Misaine, remote from 2 to 15 miles in accordance with the places from where
measurements are taken. If any current, the currents allow me to share of varying force, much
influenced by the wind, to ensure several days of strong tides may be then intervals when there is
little.
On the eastern element of Quereau is undoubtedly an area of shoal ground referred to as the Rocky
Bottom, having a depth of about 18 fathoms; somewhere else depths manage from 18 to 50 fathoms.
Most of the time the bottom is rocky, but there are scattered patches of sand and gravel.
Cod and halibut are the main food fish hake, considered and haddock and cusk being consumed in
small numbers. The Rocky Bottom, a shoal soil of 20 to 25 fathom depths on the eastern part, was
much resorted to by dory handliners in summer time. The cod are most plentiful about the eastern
area of the bank, although occasional excellent fares are taken to the west. The most effective cod
minn kota parts for this bank is produced by May until September, when the schools gather to feed
with the lant, squid, crustaceans, and shellfish, then extremely abundant.
Halibut are found here all the calendar year off the ends in 100 to 400 fathoms. Evidently these are
breeding and feeding grounds for this species, and it is not unusual to get a school to be for several
weeks and even months in one area, though many of these may be minn kota parts in migration
northward.
The principal halibut grounds are down the southern and eastern borders in the bank--the Southwest
Prong and the South west Cove (in about 44? N. lat. and between 58? 30' and 58? 55' W. long), the
Middle Prong (44? 14' N. lat. and 58? W. long.), along with the Eastern Slope (44? 28' to 45? 00' N.
lat.)--in depths of 150 to 400 fathoms. These deep-h2o areas are rocky and support a really rich
growth and development ofgorgonians and corals, sea anemones, etc. The Eastern Slope has an
abundance of bank clams in depths of 25 fathoms. These beds are good hand-line reasons for cod.
The halibut, too, rss feeds to a considerable extent upon these reddish clams.
The Stone Fencing off the eastern slope of Quereau is an extremely rocky bit of ground packed with
"shrubs" (corals) in 250 fathoms. This is a good halibut ground although it is almost impossible to
haul the gear manually and the usage of the "gurdy" (a roller turned by way of a crank and fastened
to the dory's bow for winding the trawl) will become necessary. Infrequent fares of halibut are taken
about and on the Rocky Bottom part 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 Lender. It
runs in an WNW. and an ESE. direction north of Sable Island, transforming somewhat unexpectedly
S. at its eastern end and continuing down between the eastern end of Western Lender and the South
west Prong of Banquereau. The entire length is about 80 a long way, the greatest breadth about 20
miles. Depths range from 68 to 145 fathoms over a bottom of sand, rocks and gravel and mud. The
rocky and gravelly portions type several ridges separated by areas of better materials, apart from in
the eastern section, where the intervals among are mostly paid by pebbles and sharp stones. Ocean
currents are generally westerly, of different strength, much affected by the easterly wind.
The Gully is a very important halibut floor. The halibut are not found in great numbers all over the
ground, perhaps the best of the angling simply being on the rocky and gravelly ski slopes and ridges
included involving the meridians of 69? and 80? west longitude. This rocky bottom part is full of
food, and the lant and herring are usually plentiful here in their season. In the spring the halibut
appear to be especially several in the northern and northwestern elements of the bank, later on, in
June and July, moving farther out. Some, are found within winter. It does not seem to be of regular
event; and obviously there are virtually no haddock here, probably due to the depth of the water and
also the nature of your bottom, while the cod might be found in The Gully in 60 to 90 fathoms.
Artimon Bank. Has an area of some 120 sq . miles with a bottom of rocks and pea graveldepths and
stones of 38 to 50 fathoms. It really is but unknown because of the habit of the fishermen to use the
bigger grounds near at hand. Cod are known to be present on this page, however. The lender lies N.
of the eastern part of Quereau, separated from using it by a filter, deep-water station.
Misaine Lender. Lies N. of the traditional western two-thirds of Quereau, at one location very in
close proximity to, but in basic the banks are separated by some 20 miles of deep normal water. Its
best length is 80 mls and its best width 40 miles. Depths are from 40 to 60 fathoms over a bottom
damaged and difficult. A few halibut trips are landed from this in most many years, even though it is
not of much importance as a minn kota parts floor.
Canso Lender. A long, thin extension of Misaine Financial institution, lying in an E, and W. path; its
length is 45 miles and its particular greatest thickness 13 miles, its area being about 425 square
miles. Depths range from 30 to 65 fathoms spanning a bottom of sand, with spots of gravel and
pebbles. More fished by vessels from Nova Scotia; possibly it is overshadowed by the existence of its
bigger Quereau, neighbors and American Banks, with which grounds it forms almost one part of
bottom, only narrow, deep-drinking water channels isolating them, although it is not of much
importance being a minn kota components ground, particularly as judged by the use of it by the
United states fleet. These larger grounds are seriously fished each by Us vessels and also by those
from Nova Scotia ports and also by French and British otter trawlers.
The data given right here and elsewhere with this report are taken from the published bulletins of
the United States Bureau of Fisheries, and include only the landings of vessels of 5 tons net, or
higher, at the plug-ins of Boston and Glouscester, Mass., and Portland, Me.
[Desk 5--Angling grounds from the offshore Northern Atlantic, demonstrating the principal species
taken with them]
[Footnote 16: "Pedro Reinel, a Portuguese pilot of much fame" (Herrera) created a map in 1505
showing Sable Island, feared and dreaded by all fishermen even in those days, where he named it
"Santa Cruz." Jacamo Gastaldi, an Italian cartographer, in 1548 shows it "Isolla de Arena." Sir
Humphrey Gilbert or his historian, says that the Portuguese had created an interesting arrangement
here for shipwrecked mariners. This, "On intelligence we had of the Portugal who had been himself
provide when the Portugals, above 30 years past (thus just before 1551) do put on the island neat
and swine to breed, which were given that exceedingly increased."]
TABLES OF CATCH
[Table 6--Distance from Boston or Gloucester, Size., to the center of certain in the more important
overseas banks]
[Table 7--Extended distance from Portland, Me., to the center of specific of the more essential
offshore banking companies]
[Table 8--Landings by minn kota elements vessels at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and Portland,
Me., from interior or shoreline grounds, 1927]
[Table 9--Landings by fishing vessels at Gloucester and Boston, Mass., and Portland, Me., from the
outside grounds from the Gulf of Maine, 1927]
[Table 10--Landings by fishing vessels at Boston and Gloucester, Mass., and Portland, Me., from the
minn kota parts reasons of the Georges Bank area, 1927]
[Dinner table 11--Landings by the otter-trawl fleet at Gloucester and Boston, Mass., and Portland,
Me., from the angling grounds of the Georges Bank place, 1927]