78 BANKS OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND NOVA SCOTIA BANKS. 



small rocks, with 9 and 10 fathoms over them respectively, lie near 

 the northern and eastern edges of the bank. 



This shoal, though with deeper water, is reported by the fishermen 

 to be more dangerous than Main ledge; the larger area of uneven 

 ground causes the sea to rise more readily, and break more heavily, 

 than on the small pinnacles of Main ledge. 



Main ledge and South shoal are the only dangers of the Virgin 

 rocks in ordinary bad weather, but there are several others that break 

 in heavy gales, and the uneven ground, with the tidal streams running 

 over it, produces a confused sea even in strong breezes. 



Prairie shoal lies north 2| miles from the shoalest part of Main 

 ledge, is about 800 yards long and 400 yards broad within the depth 

 of 20 fathoms, has 9 fathoms least water over it, and breaks in bad 

 weather. Between Prairie shoal and Main ledge, at distances of 

 about 1,600 yards and 1^ miles from the ledge, lie Northwest shoal 

 and Maloney ledge, with 11 and 14 fathoms least Avater on them, re- 

 spectively. 



Ice. — The Virgin rocks are usually surrounded by ice until the 

 middle of April or beginning of May. 



Tidal streams. — In the immediate neighborhood of the Virgin 

 rocks and Eastern shoals, the tidal sti'eam attains a rate of f knot an 

 hour, but a few miles away from them there is no sensible stream. 



Woolfall bank. — It was reported in June, 1900, that a sounding 

 of 9 fathoms, bottom fine brown sand and small stones, had been 

 obtained on Great bank in latitude 46° 59' 00" X., longitude 51° 

 30' 30" AV. This shoal has since been unsuccessfully searched for, 

 and its existence is doubtful. 



Green banks. — A part of the Great bank to the southwestward 

 of cape Eace is known as Green banks; on these banks there is a 

 general depth of 40 to 50 fathoms, stony bottom, but there is deeper 

 water in the gullies around them, and between the two parts com- 

 posing Green banks. 



The deep water gully between Green banks and St, Pierre bank is 

 14 miles wide with depths of 70 to 90 fathoms; it may assist in veri- 

 fying the position. 



St. Pierre bank is the western part of the Great bank; from its 

 souUiern end in latitude 45° N., longitude 55° 50' W., the western edge 

 of the bank trends about nortliAvest for 120 miles to its northern end 

 in latitude 46° 40' X., longitude 57° 20' ^Y. 



The soundings on this bank vary from 19 to 45 fathoms; generally 

 the bottom is sand and broken shells. 



A shoal Avith 15 fathoms on it was reported on June 11, 1906, by 

 the chief officer of the Danish steamer Nordboen. He obtained the 

 sounding of 15 fathoms on St. Pierre bank, in (approximately) lati- 

 tude 46° 36' N., longitude 56° 43' W. Ten minutes later a second 



