662 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



some regions, it has been stated that during mild winters, lobsters occasionally remain in depths 

 as slight as 5 to 10 fathoms. The greater part of the summer lobster fishery of Maine is carried 

 on in the passage ways and bays among the many islands and promontories that border the coast, 

 while in the winter the traps are transferred to the waters outside. At Eastport, Me., from April 

 1 to the middle of May, lobsters are mostly taken outside of the island of Gampobello, beginning 

 in depths of 20 to 25 fathoms. As the season advances, the traps are gradually shifted into shal- 

 lower water, and about the middle of May the fishermen begin upon the so-called inshore grounds, 

 which extend from Lubec, Me., to near Saint John, New Brunswick. During the summer the pots 

 are usually set in depths of 3 to 10 fathoms. In the western part of Maine, as near Biddeford 

 Pool, the winter, or rather the early spring, fishery is sometimes carried into depths of 40 or 50 

 fathoms^ while the summer fishery is conducted in very shallow water. In 1879, at Swan's Island, 

 Castine, Me., some of the fishermen set their traps upon the eel-grass, where they were left partly 

 exposed at low tide. 



Lobsters occur all about the island of Vinal Haven, and no locality seems to vary much from 

 the others. In the early spring they are taken somewhat off shore, but not far, in depths of 15 to 

 25 fathoms, but as the spring advances they move inshore, and during the summer and fall are 

 found in all the coves, creeks, and inlets, good fishing being frequently obtained in water so shal- 

 low that the traps are exposed at low tide. The fishermen are rarely obliged to go more than a 

 mile off shore at any season. The fishermen on the west side of Pemaquid fish in the waters of 

 John's Bay and the Damariscotta River, shifting into deeper water in winter, while those on the 

 east side and about Friendship find lobsters well up among the islands and coves between Saint 

 George and Pemaquid, in spring, summer, and fall, but rather far out in winter, the best winter 

 fishing-grounds being beyond the outer islands and headlands. While lobster fishing may be 

 carried on in all depths down to 50 fathoms, it is probable that the greater part of all the lobsters 

 taken on the coast of Maine come from depths of 2 to 30 fathoms. 



On the coast of New Hampshire, the principal grounds are all within depths of 8 to 10 fath- 

 oms. Off Gloucester, Mass., the traps are set in depths of 5 to 10 fathoms in the summer and 15 

 to 20 fathoms in the winter, and off Boston in depths of 1 to 8 fathoms in the summer and 12 to 

 16 fathoms in the winter or early spring. Captain Webb, of Milk Island, Cape Ann, states that 

 his traps are placed in a depth of 14 fathoms in April, and are gradually shifted inwards as the 

 water becomes warmer, the summer grounds being in 2 fathoms. At that place the lobsters some- 

 times suddenly change their ground in time of storm, and Captain Webb relates that he has greatly 

 increased his catch by moving his traps into deeper water when the signal at Thatcher's Island 

 announced a high wind from certain directions, which produced a strong undertow. 



The grounds off Provincetown, Mass., are bounded on the outer side by a belt of mud, which 

 begins in a depth of 18 to 20 fathoms ; at Yarmouth Port they sometimes fish in a depth of half a 

 fathom, while in Vineyard Sound the grounds extend from 3 to 15 fathoms, and off Gay Head 

 from 3 to 25 fathoms. On the coast of Rhode Island lobsters are taken in depths of 3 to 20 fath- 

 oms, and off Block Island and in Long Island Sound, in depths of 1 to GO fathoms. The deeper 

 places last mentioned are in Block Island Sound off Fisher's Island, being, in fact, deep holes which 

 are frequented mainly by the Noank fishermen during cold weather. 



On the New Jersey coast, lobster fishing is carried on only between Sandy Hook and Atlantic 

 City, in depths of 5 to 11 fathoms, and is mainly limited to a few small fishing banks off Long 

 Branch and Atlantic City. 



CHARACTER OF THE BOTTOM. Lobsters are fished for mainly on sandy, gravelly, and rocky 

 bottoms, but are also said to inhabit muddy regions, especially in the winter. At Provincetown, 



