THE COAST OF MAINE. 33 



southern part. Outside of the shoal the bottom is pebbly aud gravelly. This is oue of the best 

 fishing-grounds for cod and haddock in this vicinity. Both trawls and hand-lines are used. 



Innek Beeakek lies two miles west of the southwest point of Matinicus Island, and is ii 

 rocky shoal about an aero in extest, with seven fathoms of water. From the shoal the ground 

 slopes gradually to depths of twenty-five aud thirty fathoms, aud this slope offers good tishing 

 for cod iu May and June. The bottom is rocky aud much broken, being too sharp for trawls. 



Tow-Head Geotjnd bears north by east one-half east from Matinicus Islaud, from which it 

 is distaut two and oue-half miles. It has a depth of from twelve to thirty fathoms; is somewhat 

 irregular iu shape, with a very rocky and broken bottom. The ground designated by this name 

 is from two and one-half to three miles long, and from one-half <to one and one-half miles wide. 

 It extends in an east by south and west by north directiou, and is considered one of the best 

 inside shoal grounds for cod and haddock iu the bay. Iland-lines only are used. 



The entile bay, between Vinal Ilaveu and Matinicus and the Green Islands, is full of broken, 

 rocky patches of flshing-grouud, certain portious of which have received local names from the 

 fishermen of the vicinity. 



Western or Green Island Kidge. — The northern portion of this ridge lies six and one- 

 half miles northwest by west from Matiuicus Rock, from which place it extends about seven miles 

 in a soulhsouthwcst direction. Its greatest width is not over oue mile ; the depths vary from 

 fifteen to thirty fathoms, the bottom being broken aud rocky. This is a good ground for cod iu 

 the spring and fall. 



GROUNDS OFF MATINIC ISLAND. 



Matinic Bank is an extension of the shore soundings which make out to the southward 

 and eastward of Matinic, a distance of two or three miles, with depths, outside of one and a 

 half miles, of twenty-three to thirty fathoms. The bottom is quite level, consisting of rocks, 

 pebbles, and gravel, and abounds in cod from March until June. Just off the edge the bottom 

 is soft and muddj-, with depths of forty to Hfty fathoms. 



Matinic Ooze. — This is a flat bottom composed of ooze aud shells that makes ofil' to thc^ 

 eastward of the Haddock Ledge and Shoal, and bears about south from Matinic. Haddock Shoal 

 and the Ooze are reallj' parts of one ground, though knowu to the fishermen under different names. 

 The Haddock Shoal is now considered poor ground and is little resorted to. The Ooze falls off 

 gradually, reaching a depth of fifty fathoms on the outer part. It is considered fair fishing- 

 ground for cod and haddock in the spring, and for cod and hake iu the summer aud fall. 



Freeman's Ground lies about six aud ouehalf miles east from Monhegau Island, between 

 Orue's Ground and Matinicus VVestern Ground. It is about three miles long, iu a northeast 

 aud soutliwest directiou, aud one mile wide. It includes a shoal of twenty fathoms on the 

 southwest part, having a sharp, rocky bottom, the rest of the ground being from twenty-five to 

 forty fathoms deep, with a boitom of rocks, gravel, and broken shells, quite uueveu iu some 

 places and smooth in others. This is a good ground for cod in the spring and for hake, cod, 

 and pollock in the summer and fall. 



grounds in the immediatk vicinity of monhegan island. 



Middle Suoal, Pollock Eif, Allen's Shoal, and Decker's Shoal are small locky 

 patches lying to the eastward of Monhegan and northerly from the Outer Shoal. They have 

 depths varying from six to thirty fathoms, and generally a sharp, rocky, and bioken bottom. 

 They are fished on with hand-lines for cod aud pollock. 

 sec III :i 



