XXXL— PRELIMINARY REPORT ON A SERIES OF DREDGINGS 



MADE ON THE UNITED STATES COAST SURVEY 



STEAMER BACHE, IN THE GULF OF MAINE, 



UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PROF. S. F. BAIRD, UNITED STATES FISH COM- 

 MISSIONER, DURING SEPTEMBER, 1873. 



By A. S. Packard, Jk., M. D. 



Though it was the original intention to devote the month to an ex- 

 ploration of the Saint George's Banks, it was decided, on account of our 

 defective boilers, to work nearer shore, and extend the work of the 

 United States Fish Commission, for the season located in Casco Bay, 

 the dredging operations being conducted under the charge of Professor 

 Verrill. This involved an examination of certain unexplored portions 

 of that great indentation lying between Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, and 

 Cape Cod, which is laid down on the charts as the " Gulf of Maine." 



Through the researches of Messrs. Stimpson,Verrill, myself, and others, 

 in the Bay of Fundy, and of Drs. Gould, Wheatland, Stimpson, and 

 others, in Massachusetts Bay, together with the very thorough examina- 

 tion of Casco Bay and vicinity, pursued during the past summer by 

 Professors Baird and Verrill, we had obtained a very complete knowl- 

 edge of the coast-fauna of New England north of Cape Cod. Moreover, 

 the exploration of Saint George's Banks, made by Messrs. Smith, Harger, 

 and myself last year in the Bache, had given us some idea of the 

 nature of the sea-bottom, dredging having been carried on at a depth of 

 432 fathoms by Messrs. Smith and Harger. 



It now remained to explore some interesting localities within Saint 

 George's Banks, and at a distance from the coast. This report embraces 

 an account of a reconnaissance of Jeffrey's Bank, lying south of Mount 

 Desert Island ; Cash's Ledge, another bank lying southwest of Jeffrey's 

 Bank ; of Jeffrey's Ledge, a northeastern submarine prolongation of 

 Cape Ann ; and Stellwageu's Bank, a northerly submarine extension of 

 Cape Cod. As intermediate points were investigated, the series of 

 dredgings may be regarded as conducted along six main lines running 

 out easterly from the shore between Portland and Cape Cod. 



On the 2d of September, the Bache, with Lieutenant Jaques tempora- 

 rily in command, left Peak's Island, Casco Bay, the headquarters of 

 Professor Baird, and made a harbor for the night at Booth Bay. Early 

 the next, morning, we ran out and dredged about " Monhegan Falls" in 

 60 fathoms, searching with dredge, tangles, and trawl for the arctic 



