THE GULF OF MAINE. 45" 



Pla.tt's Bank, ob Hew Ledge, bears east by north one-half north from Thatcher's Island, 

 from which the shoal portion of the ledge is distant fifty-three miles. This bank is twelve miles 

 long, southwest and northeast, and eight miles wide. The shoal, which is rocky and of small 

 extent, is situated near the center, and has a depth of twenty-nine fathoms. Over a large extent 

 of the bank the depths range from thirty to thirty-five fathoms, with a bottom of rocks and gravel. 

 From the edge of this area the bottom slopes gradually to a depth of fifty to sixty fathoms ; 

 beyond which it drops suddenly to eighty or ninety fathoms with a muddy bottom. This is con- 

 sidered one of the very best fishing-grounds for cod and haddock in the Gulf of Maine, and hake 

 are generally abundant during the summer on the muddy bottom near its edge. Trawl-liues 

 are used. Eesorted to by the shore fishing-vessels from all along the coast, from Cape Cod to 

 Maine. 



Mistaken Ledge bears north from the center of New Ledge, from which it is distant about 

 ten miles. This ground is about eight miles long in an east and west direction, and five miles 

 wide. The depths range from thirty-five to sixty fathoms, and the bottom consists of rocks and 

 gravel. In proportion to its size this ground is nearly as important as New Ledge, being resorted 

 to by the same species of fish and visited by the same class of fishing vessels. 



Jeffeey's Ledge. — This may be considered one of the best shore fishing-grounds in the Gulf 

 of Maine, although it is of comparatively small size. It appears to be an extension of the shoal 

 ground that makes off in a northeasterly direction from Cape Ann; it is about twenty miles long, 

 northeast and southwest, and from two to four miles wide. Its southern limit is 42° 54' and its 

 northern 43° 11' north latitude, and the eastern and western boundaries may be placed at 69° 58' 

 and 70° 18' west longitude. The bottom is rocky on the shoalest parts, with gravel and pebbles 

 along the edges. The depths of water range from twenty-seven to thirty-five fathoms on the 

 bank, and fall off to forty and fifty fathoms at the edges. There is usually little or no tide, 

 although an occasional current sets toward the southwest. Cod, cusk, and haddock are taken in 

 the fall, winter, spring, and early summer, with a greater or less quantity of hake or pollock. 

 For a number of years Jeffrey's Ledge was a favorite winter fishing-ground for haddock, which 

 were very abundant there, and even at the present time many vessels resort to it in pursuit of 

 that species; but since the haddock fishermen have extended their cruises to the outer banks, 

 a less number now visit Jeffrey's Ledge. Besides the haddock catchers, other vessels engaged 

 in the shore fisheries come to this ground in the spring and fall. 



Eastern shoal water op Cape Ann.— This ground extends off in an east-northeast 

 direction from Cape Ann, a distance of fifteen to eighteen miles. It is, in reality, a southwest 

 continuation of Jeffrey's Ledge, the two forming a nearly continuous ridge, running northeast 

 from Cape Ann, a distance of about forty-two miles. The depths of water on the so-called 

 " Eastern Shoal Water " vary from twenty to forty-five fathoms, the bottom consisting of rocks, 

 pebbles, and coarse gravel over the most of its extent. On the edges sand and mud occur. The 

 eastern part of this ground is resorted to by the haddock fleet during the fall and early winter, 

 and the other parts are visited more or less the entire year, for cod, haddock, and pollock, by 

 the vessels composing the shore fleet, and by the boat fishermen of Cape Ann. 



TiLLiE's Bank bears east by south one-half south from Thatcher's Island, Cape Ann, from 

 which the shoal (located near the center of the ground) is distant eighteen miles. A small, rocky 

 shoal, with a depth of twenty-eight fathoms (some fishermen claim a less depth), is situated near 

 the ceater, outside of which the water deepens to forty fathoms, this depth occupying quite an 

 extended area. The length of the entine ground is ten miles, in an east and west direction, and 



