44 FISBING-GEODNDS OF NORTH AMEEICA. 



The depths are fifty to eighty fathoms, and the bottom consists of hard chiy. The principal fish 

 taken here are cod. 



Bank Comfort, which is a comparatively little known fishing-ground, bears southeast by 

 south from ISIonnt Desert Itock ; distant thirteen miles. It is said to be about five miles long, 

 southwest and uortlicast, by three miles wide; has a hard gravelly bottom, and depths ranging 

 from seventy-five to eighty fathoms. It is considered an excellent fishing-ground for cod in the 

 spring and summer, but is less frequented than some other localities, since its small size renders 

 it difiicult for the fishermen to find it, except under the most favorable circumstances. 



Jeffeey's Bank. — This bank, which lies east of Cashe's Ledge, is of comparatively little 

 importance as a fishing-ground. It is about twenty miles long, southwest and northeast, and ten 

 miles wide, the northern and southern limits being 43^ 30' and 43° 15' north latitude. The 

 eastern edge is in 08^ 25' and the western in 08° 45' west longitude. The bottom, which is 

 somewhat broken, is composed of mud, sand, gravel, and pebbles, the depths of water ranging from 

 thirty-five to seventy fathoms. Cod, haddock, hake, and cask are the most abundant fish; some 

 pollock are caught, but halibut are rarely taken. The host season is late in the spring and early 

 in the summer, before the schools of dogfish strike in, after which but few fish can be obtained. 

 This bank is resorted to by the smaller-sized vessels, from fifteen to fifty tons. 



Kewfoxjnd and Monhegan Fall Grounds are evidently parts of Jeffrey's Bank, according 

 to the statements of intelligent fishermen who have visited them. Newfound Ground is on the 

 eastern part of the bank, and has a very irregular and broken bottom. Monhegan Fall Ground 

 lies westerly from Newfound. Both of tliese grounds used to furnish excellent fishing, but are 

 not now resorted to as much as formerly. 



Cashe's Ledge. — This is not now a very important fishing-ground except for a brief period 

 in the spring, although it is resorted to somewhat by the shore fishermen in summer and fall, 

 when good trips are usually obtained. It bears east from Cape Ann, from which the shoaler 

 portions are seventy-six miles distant. The bank is about twenty-two miles long, from 42° 49' to 

 43° 11' north latitude, and about seventeen miles wide, from 08° 40' to 69° 03' west longitude. 

 There are three small shoals on the western part of the bank, the southern one with a dej)th of 

 seven fathoms of water, the middle one with four fathoms, and the northern one with eleven 

 fathoms. The position of the middle shoal is 42° 5G' north latitude and 08° 52' west longitude. 

 From this the south shoal bears south by east, and the north shoal north-northeast, each being 

 three and one-half miles distant from it. The water breaks on these in rough weather, and 

 though of small extent they are dangerous to passing vessels, especially as they lie almost 

 directly in the track of vessels bound from Cape Sable to ports in Massachusetts Bay. With the 

 exception of the shoals the depth of water ranges from fifteen to sixty fiithoms. The ground is 

 more or less broken, with a bottom of sand, pebbles, and rocks. The greater part of the fish 

 caught here are cod, hake, and cusk. Halibut are rarely seen, and haddock and pollock are less 

 plentiful than the other kinds. Good fares are often secured on the edge of the ground in May 

 and June, but the dogfish, which appear about the last of June or .n July, usually drive every- 

 thing before them, and, for a time, stop the fishing. The vessels fishing on Cashe's Ledge range 

 from fifteen to forty -five tons, and are classed as shore-trawlers. 



FippENiES Bank bears east one-quarter south from Thatcher's Island ; distance, sixty-one 

 miles. It is nearly ten miles long north and south, and has an average width of four and one-half 

 OQiles. The bottom consists of gravel, pebbles, and clay, the depths ranging from thirty-six to 

 sixty fathoms. Resorted to by the shore fleet in the spring and early summer. 



