86 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
depth is from 2 to 50 fathoms. On the western part, between the par- 
allels of 41° 10’ and 41°53’ N. latitude, and the meridians of 67° 20/ 
and 68° 37’ W. longitude, are a number of shoals known as the East 
Shoal, the North Shoal, the Southwest Shoal, Cultivator Shoal, &e. 
The Southwest Shoal is the largest, being 15 milesin length. There is 
from 2 to 15 fathoms of water on these shoals and between them from 
12 to 30 fathoms. The tides sweep over these with great force, causing 
strong rips, and during rough weather the sea breaks heavily on them, 
rendering approach to their vicinity extremely hazardous. The bottom 
is chiefly sand, although patches of rough ground, gravel, pebbles, and 
rocks, of more or less extent, are found on some parts of it. 
Its situation between the Bay of Fundy and the Gulf Stream causes 
the tides to run swifter than on the other banks, and to swirl around 
instead of going directly back and forth in opposite directions. They 
‘runaround the compass, from left toright, attaining the greatest strength 
when at SE. and NW., and the least in a southwest and northeast direc- 
tion. The first attempt at fishing on this bank of which there is any 
record was made in 1821 by three Gloucester vessels. But the George’s 
cod and halibut fishery is of later date, as it did not become fully estab- 
lished as a permanent business enterprise until about 1835, although 
vessels went there for halibut in 1830. At first the catch was mostly 
halibut, but since 1850 it has been chiefly codfish, although more or less 
halibut are taken with them. During the months of February, March, 
and April large schools of cod make their appearance on the bank. 
They are generally found on the “ winter fishing-ground,” a part of the 
bank lying to the eastward of the shoals, between 41° 30/ and 42° 00’ 
N. latitude and 66° 38’ to 67° 30’ W. longitude. This is essentially a 
spawning ground for the cod, which appear to come on the bank from 
the southeast, as they almost invariably, after reaching the ground, 
move slowly to the north and west as spring approaches. This is in the 
direction of the shoals, and, as the pursuit of the fish brings the ves- 
sels near the latter, great loss of life and property sometimes occur in 
heavy easterly gales and storms. As soon as the spawning season is 
over the schools of cod break up, but more or less fish are caught on 
different parts of the bank during the entire year, though rarely, if 
ever, are they found so plenty as when the winter school is on. 
_ The codfish fleet, which numbers about one hundred sail, is wholly 
from Gloncester, Mass. Besides these there are twenty-five to thirty 
vessels from the same port that fish on George’s for haddock in the 
winter, and a few others from New London, Conn., and other ports on 
Long Island Sound engage in the cod and halibut fishery in spring 
and summer. 
BROWN’S BANK. | 
Brown’s Bank lies in a northeasterly direction from George’s Bank, 
being separated from the latter by a gully, This bank is imperfectly 
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