40 FISHING GROUNDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



one week. The scliool then moves .'slowly inward toward the head of the bay, the la.st fi.sh being 

 taUen usually in the vicinity of Miuot's Ledge, off Boston. 



The mackerel, in the course of their autumn migrations after leaving the coast of Maine, pass 

 in by Cape Ann and enter Massachusetts Bay, where they are generally taken in large quantities 

 during October and November, by vessels of the regular mackerel fleet, using purse-seines. 



Grounds in the vicinity or Eastern Foint, Cape Ann. — Old Man's Fasttire bears 

 southeast, distant five miles, from Eastern Foint light. It is about three-fourths of a mile long, 

 north-northeast and south-southwest, by one-third of a mile wide, the average depth of water 

 being twenty-four fathoms; the bottom is rough and rocky. Cod occur here the entire year. 



Weatcrn Part Ekhje bears south by cast half east from Eastern Foint light ; distance, about 

 nine and one-fourth miles. The length, northeast and southwest, is one and one-half miles, and 

 the average width three-fourths of a mile. The average depth is twenty-nine fathoms, the bottom 

 being broken and rocky. Small vessels and open boats visit this ridge for cod and haddock in the 

 summer. 



Harfs Ground bears south half east from Eastern Point light; distance, five and one-half 

 miles. Its length, in an east-northeast and west-southwest direction, is three-fourths of a mile, 

 and its width one-fourth of a mile. This is a rocky patch with a depth of water of about thirty 

 fathoms, and is visited by boat fishermen for haddock in the summer. 



HagJe Eidge lies seven and two-thirds miles south by west from Eastern Foint light, and is 

 one mile long, soufheast and northwest, by one-third of a mile wide. It has an average depth of 

 twenty-five fathoms and an uneven rocky bottom, and is a favorite winter ground for cod. 



Inside of the above- described grounds, at an average distance of two and one-half miles 

 from Eastern Foint light, and between the bearings of south half east and southwest, are a 

 number of small rocky patches, Avith depths ranging from ten to twenty-five fathoms, designated 

 as follows: Broicnh Ledge, Sjwt ofEoclcs, Stoneicallj Saturday NigWs Ledge, and Burnhain's Eocks. 

 Still farther in are two other shoal spots, bearing nearly west from Eastern Point, one of which is 

 distant about three fourths of a mile, the other a little more than two miles. Each of these has a 

 depth of about eleven fathoms, the former being called FAcvcnfathom Grovnd, and the latter, 

 which lies only half a mile southeast of Kettle Island, Kettle Island Ledge. Both of these patches 

 are fished on by the boat and dory fishermen, using hand-lines, for cod in winter and for haddock 

 in summer. 



Numerous other rocky hummocks, of very limited extent, are located easterly of the grounds 

 already described and within a few miles of them. They bear local names, and are less frequented 

 than the larger areas, and the fishermen only reach them by means of cross-bearings from objects 

 on land. The chief winter-grounds for cod in the vicinity of Eastern Foint are Old Blaii's 

 Pasture, Eagle Ledge, and Brown's Ledge. 



Stellwagen's Bank or Middle Bank separates Massachusetts Bay from the Gulf of 

 Maine, and extends from near Cape Ann to near Cape Cod. The center of the bank bears about 

 .south by cast half east from Thatcher's Island, and north by west half west from Highland light. 

 Cape Cod. The southern point of the bank is distant about five and one-half miles from Race Point, 

 Cape Cod, and the northwest prong reaches to within about twelve to fifteen miles of Ea.steru 

 Point, Capo Ann. The shoaler portion, with depths of from nine and one-half to nineteen 

 fathoms, is seventeen and one-half miles long, in a north by west and south by east direction, and 

 has an average width of four miles. This part of the bank is sandy, but on the eastern slope, in 

 depths of twenty-five to fifty-five fathoms, it consists of coarse sand, gravel, and pebbles. On this 



