2 NEW ENGLAND FISHERIES 



land to Cape Race is 1,600 miles, and from Cape Race south- 

 west to Cape Florida is 2,400 miles. 



DAVIS STRAIT AND ICELAND. 



In Davis Strait the fishing grounds are less clearly de- 

 nned than in any other part with the possible exception 

 of the Icelandic grounds. The principal edible fish taken 

 is the halibut; others are the lump-fish, the Norway had- 

 dock and the capelin. Cod are so scarce that it is not 

 profitable to catch them for market. The banks of the 

 Strait extend from latitude 68 to 63, they are from 20 

 to 40 miles from the mainland and slope abruptly on 

 their inner or eastern edges. Their surface is of varied 

 character, though generally rocky with scattered sandy 

 and muddy spots. They range in depth from 20 to 50 

 fathoms, a condition that makes fishing easier than on 

 the Grand Bank of Newfoundland where the fish are found 

 in deeper water. During the months of July and August, 

 the season is most favorable for fishing both on account of 

 the temperature, which ranges from 40 to 45, and the 

 greater abundance of fish that move to and from the 

 banks during these months. Owing to the peculiarities of 

 the tidal currents in Davis Strait fishing is rendered im- 

 possible for five or six hours at a time; as the nights in 

 this latitude are light enough to permit fishing at all 

 hours in July, it is possible for the fishermen to select 

 the most convenient time for their work, and to take their 

 rest when the tides are running. The principal harbors 

 for fishermen on the Greenland shore are Sukkertoppen, 

 Goothaab Fiord and Holsteinborg. 



The first American vessel to visit Iceland for fish was 

 the Membrino Chief, of Gloucester, which went on a salt 

 halibut voyage in 1873. 1 The failure of the venture in- 



i Fishermen's Memorial and Record Book, p. 96. 



