NORTH ATLANTIC FISHING GROUNDS 13 



in a more or less continuous line from George's Bank to 

 the Grand Bank of Newfoundland. George's Bank is a 

 northeast extension of Nantucket Shoals from which it is 

 separated, at the meridian of 69 west longitude, by the 

 South Channel with a depth of less than 50 fathoms. It 

 extends eastward to the meridian of 66, and its width is 

 embraced between the parallels of 40 30' and 42 8'. The 

 bottom is principally of sand, with occasional patches of 

 gravel, pebbles and rocks. Its depth is from two to fifty 

 fathoms. Several shoals, of which Southwest Shoal and 

 Cultivator Shoal are well-known, are found on the western 

 part of the bank with depths ranging from two to fifteen 

 fathoms. The tides of George's are strong, sweeping in 

 a circular motion over the bank. For many years it was 

 the firm conviction of fishermen that the tides of George's 

 would under-run and sink any vessel that should anchor 

 on the grounds, so that it was not until 1821 that the 

 crew of a Gloucester schooner had the courage to drop 

 anchor on the bank and prove the falsity of the belief. On 

 the shoals the tides cause rips, while in stormy weather 

 the sea breaks, making navigation extremely dangerous. 

 East of the shoals is the "winter fishing ground" for 

 cod, where the fish appear in large numbers in February, 

 March and April. During the roughest season of the year 

 fishermen frequent that part of George's which, during 

 easterly storms, gives a lee shore on the dangerous shoals. 

 No place is more to be dreaded than this, few places have 

 caused more shipwrecks and greater loss of life. Cod, 

 haddock and halibut are the great staples of George's 

 Bank, although within a few years extensive catches of 

 mackerel have been made in July and August. 



NOVA SCOTIA OFFSHORE BANKS. 



Fifteen miles to the northeast from George's Bank and 

 south from Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, is Brown's Bank 



