NORTH ATLANTIC FISHING GROUNDS 



NEW ENGLAND SHORE. 



The principal inshore fishing grounds of the coast of 

 Maine, within the limits of the sixty-fathom line, lie at- 

 ari average distance of twelve to fifteen miles from the 

 shore. They are generally rocky or gravelly patches 

 abounding in cod, haddock and pollock ; hake are found on 

 the muddy bottoms between the harder patches. Herring 

 and mackerel are abundant in their season, although the 

 latter in the last twenty years have been less abundant 

 than previously. Soft clams also abound and form the 

 winter business of many of the citizens who ordinarily do 

 not engage in fishing. At no other place in the United 

 States are lobsters found in such numbers as on the Maine 

 coast. 



From Grand Manan to Isle au Haute is a succession of 

 detached rocks, ridges, ledges and grounds more or 

 less famous for their fisheries. Among the most 

 valuable are Outer Schoodic Ridge, 22 miles southeast 

 from Baker's Island, one of the best shore-fishing grounds 

 of Maine; Mount Desert Rock, famous, no less, for its be- 

 ing a well-known landmark for seamen than for the fish 

 obtained around it; the Grumpy, 10 miles southeast from 

 the western head of Isle au Haute, excelling in hake in 

 summer, in haddock in winter, and in cod the entire year; 

 and Hatchell Ground, southeast from the Grumpy, and 

 9!/ miles from Isle au Haute, next to the Grumpy con- 

 sidered one of the best grounds inside Mount Desert 

 Rock. 



The islands of Matinicus, Monhegan and Seguin are 

 well-known centers for important fishing grounds grouped 

 about them. Only a few of the groups may be mentioned. 

 Matinicus Sou 'sou 'west Ground, 6 miles distant from 

 Matinicus Rock, is triangular in shape, about 9 miles 

 in extent on each side. Here are good fishing-grounds 



