THE COASTS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MASSAOHrrSE'iT:S. 39 



to sixty fathoms, and a bottom of tough blue clay. This is the best winter haddock ground in 

 the vicinity, and is much resorted to at that season by the haddock trawlers. 



Duck Island Eidges. — These are two narrow, rocky ridges running out from Duck Island 

 (one of the Isles of Shoals) in the direction of Boone Island, reaching to within a mile of the 

 latter. The depths range from twenty-five to thirty fathoms. A good ground for haddock and 

 cusk in the winter and spring, and resorted to by open boats, and also by many large vessels. 



Boone Island Eook Ground begins one-half mile to the eastward of Boone Island Ledge, 

 and runs in an east-southeast direction for a distance of two to three miles from the ledge, having 

 a bottom of sharp rocks and clay, and depths ranging from forty to sixty fathoms. It is considered 

 an excellent fishing-ground for cod, haddock, and cusk, and one of the best winter haddock 

 grounds in the vicinity, at which season it is resorted to by the trawlers. 



Ten Aobes bears south from Boone Island and east from the Isles of Shoals, these cross 

 bearings meeting near the center of the ground, which is about five miles in diameter, with a 

 small, rocky shoal (one-fourth mile wide) in the middle ; on this shoal there is a depth of eighteen 

 to twenty fathoms. The bottom around the shoal consists of clay and mud, and slopes gradually 

 to depths of fifty to sixty fathoms near the edge. This is a good fishing-ground for cod, 

 haddock, cusk, and pollock, while on the muddy bottom surrounding it large quantities of hake 

 are taken. 



In addition to the above-described grounds, there are in Well's Bay several small, rocky 

 patches of less importance which are chiefly resorted to by small-boat fishermen. 



7. THE COASTS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MASSACHUSETTS TO NANTUCKET, 



Ipswich Bay. — Ipswich Bay, from the north side of Cape Ann to about Portsmouth, is 

 resorted to during the winter season by large schools of cod, which visit this region to spawn. 

 The shore soundings of the bay gradually deepen outwards from the land, reaching depths of 

 thirty-five to forty fathoms at a distance of six to seven miles from shore. Within this limit,, 

 the bottom is mainly composed of sand, although there are numerous rocky patches between 

 Newburyport and Cape Ann. Beyond a depth of forty fathoms, however, the bottom consists 

 mostly of mud. The principal codfishing-grounds of Ipswich Bay lie off the northern shore, from 

 Newburyport to the entrance of Portsmouth Harbor, at a distance of one and a half to five miles 

 from the land, where the water is from twelve to twenty-five fathoms deep. Cod are also taken 

 abundantly on the ledges at the south. A large fleet of vessels engage in this fishery in winter. 

 Prior to 1880, trawls and hand-lines were universally used by the shore fleet, but in that year 

 gill-nets were introduced with good results. 



The area of muddy bottom outside is generally a favorite fishing-ground for hake in the late 

 summer and fall. This fishery is participated in by the open-boat fishermen of eastern Cape Ann 

 and the Isles of Shoals, and by small vessels coming from more distant places. 



Massachusetts Bay. — The larger part of this bay, inside of Stellwagen's Bank, has a 

 muddy bottom, on which large quantities of fish are rarely taken. Farther in, however, on the 

 shore soundings, especially between the entrance to Boston Harbor and Plymouth, exist numerous 

 rocky ledges, which are favorite feeding-grounds for cod in the fall and winter. This region is 

 frequented by the Swampscott fleet and by other vessels supplying the Boston market. Near 

 the center of Cape Cod Bay there is a rocky elevation, on which cod ai'e taken, and numerous 

 other ledges of larger and smaller size lie off' the south side of Cape Ann. 



Herring make their appearance about Cape Ann in the month of September. They come in 

 large numbers, and remain about two weeks, the best fishing, however, continuing only about 



