234 HISTORY AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 



G. HADDOCK FISHERY OF NEW ENGLAND. 



By G. BKOWN GOODE and J. W. COLLINS. 



The winter fishery for the capture of the haddock, Melanogrammus wglefinus, is carried on 

 chiefly from the ports of Gloucester, Boston, and Portland, though participated in to some extent 

 by vessels from Portsmouth, Swanipscott, and other ports. Although haddock are caught in large 

 quantities, from spring to fall, by numerous vessels and boats employed in the fisheries between 

 Portland and Philadelphia, the winter haddock fishery is far more important, and is peculiar in its 

 methods. It is of comparatively recent origin, dating back about thirty years. We are told that 

 in 1850 immense quantities of haddock were caught on the trawls in Massachusetts Bay, and that 

 a petition was prepared by the Swanipscott fishermen asking for a law which should prohibit trawl- 

 fishing, on the ground that this method would soon exterminate the haddock. It is impossible to 

 trace with any degree of certainty the steps in the history of this fishery, since it is pursued only 

 for a few months in the year by vessels otherwise occupied a large portion of the time. The fish 

 have been disposed of in a fresh condition, and the catch has not been carefully recorded. 



1. FISHING GROUNDS. 



The winter haddock fishery is prosecuted, from October to April, on nearly all of the inshore 

 ledges and the nearest of the off-shore banks south of Sable Island Bank and north of Sandy Hook. 

 The principal haddock fishery is, however, located north of Cape Cod. The depth at which the 

 fish are taken varies with the locality, but is within the limits of 25 and 90 fathoms ; usually iu 

 water deeper than thirty fathoms. 



In the fall, when fishing first begins, the vessels set their trawls along the coast from Nan 

 tucket Shoals to Grand Menan, in 30 to 90 fathoms of water. On the outside of Cape Cod the 

 fishing is within 5 to 15 miles of the shore ; in Massachusetts Bay, principally on the outer slope 

 of Middle Bank and the southern slope of the shoal ground that lies to the eastward of Cape Ann, 

 usually called " the Southeast," the eastern part of the shoal water on Jeffries Ledge, and along 

 the coast of Maine within thirty miles of the shore, especially about Monhegan Fall, South-south- 

 west, and Western Ground. Fishing in this region continues until midwinter, and is kept up by a 

 smaller class of vessels, such as those hailing from Portland, throughout the whole season. The 

 larger vessels, comprising the major portion of the Gloucester fleet, strike farther out to sea, fishing 

 upon George's Bank, usually in 25 to 40 fathoms, near the localities frequented by the winter cod- 

 fishermen, and also on the western part of the Bank. They also fish on Brown's Bank, in water 

 about the same depth, and on La Have and about Cape Sable. The fishing on La Have Bank 

 for haddock was first attempted in the winter of 18SO-'81.* This fishery has been attended with 

 the greatest success. Fishing continues on these outer banks until the end of the season, when 

 it is time for the vessels to engage iu other fisheries. A few large schooners follow the haddock 

 fishery during the whole year, often visiting the off-shore grounds, and marketing their catch at 

 Boston. 



* Capt. S. J. Martin, of Gloucester, writes, under date of May 10, 1881, as follows : " The first vessel that went 

 to La Have Bank for haddock was the schooner Martha C., of this port. Slio made her first trip there last winter." 



