EXPLANATION OF OHAETS. XV 



XII. In March, 1877, the schooner Howard canght 25,000 ponnds of halibut at this place in one day, in 55 fathoms. 



XIII. Grood haUbnt fishing, January and February, 1879. 



XIV. Halibut very abundant March, 1876, and many good fares obtained. In May, 1879, the schooner Mary F. 

 Chisbolm secured a fare of 40,000 pounds. 



XV. In the inclosed area many large fares of halibut were canght in February and March, 1866 and 1867. At the 

 spot marked with the cross the schooner Centennial obtained 100,000 ponnds in one trip. 



XVI. The crosses indicate the position of the halibut fleet in January, 1878, where good fares were obtaiaed in 

 depths of 160 to 200 fathoms. Halibut were scarce here in 1879. 



XVII. Halibut were very abundant in the positions indicated by the crosses in the springs of 1876 and 1877, and 

 fine fares were obtained in 150 to 300 fathoms. The edge of the Grand Bank on this side, from its southern end to 44° 

 north latitude, has been one of the best halibut grounds in the Western Atlantic ever since the discovery of the deep- 

 water fishery, and many large fares have been taken at all seasons. The halibut are, however, somewhat erratic in 

 their movements, and are not equally abundant at all times. Those foand to the southward of latitude 44° north 

 appear to be moving off from the bank into water too deep for the fishermen to follow them, and all trace of them is 

 lost. North of latitude 44° north they seem to be working along the edge of the bank, and often it is not difficult to 

 trace their summer migrations in the early part of the season. 



XVIII.' In this position the schooner Stirling, on a "salt trip," made a large catch of halibut in 130 fathoms in 

 April, 1873. This is the first recorded instance of deep-water halibut fishing on the Grand Banks. 



XIX. The area inclosed by the dotted line was a favorite halibut ground in the winter and spring for several 

 years previous to the beginning of the deep-water fishery. The schools of halibut were generally migrating towards 

 the west and northwest. This area also furnishes excellent cod-fishing, and is much resorted to by fishermen from the 

 United States, the British Provinces, and France. In the space inclosed at its southern end, and marked "Good 

 Cod Grounds"— cod were very abundant in June, 1877. Good cod-fishing is still found here almost every summer, but 

 halibut are no longer taken in any considerable numbers. 



XX. In the position indicated by the cross many fine fares of halibut were caught prior to 1875. This locality 

 is noted for the exceedingly large fare obtained by the schooner Mary Carlisle, in April, 1871, which paid the crew 

 shares of ^36 each, the largest ever realized from a fresh halibut trip. 



XXI. HaUbUt abundant in January, 1876. 



XXII. This ground, known as the "Eastern Shoal Water," was chiefly resorted to for halibnt from 1864 to 1871. 

 After 1869, however, but few halibut were caught here except in the fall. Good fall trips were made as late as 1874. 

 The dotted cross in the Western part of the inclosed area indicates where the schooner Mary G. Dennis took a large 

 fare in the spring of 1868, and that in the southeastern part where the schooner N. H. Phillips, in October, 1871, 

 obtained a fare that reaUzed one of the largest stocks ever made on a fresh haUbut trip up to that date. Up to. 

 within a few years of 1880, the Eastern Shoal Water was also a favorite place for cod in the fall, and sometimes at 

 other seasons. Of late it has not been as much resorted to as formerly. It was on this ground that the ' ' giant squid "" 

 were found in snch large ntimbers in the fall of 1875. 



XXni. Halibnt were abundant along this edge of the bank in 1881 and 1882, between 43° 30' and 44° 15' north, 

 latitude, and in depths of 125 to 300 fathoms. The prevalence of icebergs and the strength of the Arctic current, 

 render fishing here very difficult and dangerous. 



XXrX. Halibut were abundant on and near the Virgin Rocks during the summers from 1868 to 1S70, inclusive^ 

 and several large fares were obtained. Since 1871 no catches of importance have been made. The Virgin Kockl 

 have been for many years a favorite looaHty for hand-line dory fishermen engaged in the cod fishery, and in the 

 summer a fleet of vessels lies near the shoals, each one sending out from 10 to 25 dories. The cod average somewhat 

 smaller than on other parts of the Grand Banks, being such as are called "mixed fish" in New England. 



XXX. Good cod fishing obtained on trawls with salt clam bait and " shack," April, 1879. 



XXXI. Good catches of cod made with capelin bait in June and July, 1877 and 1878. 



XXXII. Cod fishing with shack bait good in June and Jnly, 1874 and 1878. 



XXXIII. This ground nearly always affords good cod fishing from May to July, with herring, capelin, and squid 

 bait. The fish were very abundant in June, 1879. 



XXXIV. Cod very abundant in June, 1875. 



XXXV. Good cod fishing with herring bait. May, 1879. 



XXXVI. Good catches of cod with squid bait were made in August, 1879. 



XXXVII. Good cod fishing with squid bait, July, 1879. 

 SEC m n 



