86 EEPORT 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' K. latitude, and the meridians of G7° 20' 

 and G8° 37' W. longitude, are a number of shoals known as the East 

 Shoal, the North Shoal, the Southwest Shoal, Cultivator Shoal, &c. 

 The Southwest Shoal is the largest, being 15 miles in 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 Fuudy 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 

 run around the compass, from leftto right, attaining the greatest strength 

 when at SF. 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' 

 IS. latitude and 00° 38' to 07° 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 Gloucester, Mass. Besides these there are tweuty-five to thirty 

 vessels from the same port that fish on George's for haddock in the. 

 winter, and a few others from Xew Loudon, 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 



