46 FISHING GEOUNDS OF NOETH AMEEIOA. 



the width about five miles. At the edge it falls off rapidly to depths of fifty to sixty fathoms, 

 before reaching the mud at a still greater depth. The bottom is rough and rocky over the 

 greater part. Tillie's was formerly regarded as one of the best fishing-grounds off Cape Ann, 

 and is still resorted to for cod and in the fall for haddock. Trawls are the principal kinds of 



fishing gear in use. 



9. THE SOUTHERN COAST OF NEW ENGLAND, 



THE SHORE GROUNDS OP NANTUCKET. 



There are two principal shore grounds for cod on the coast of Nantucket ; one lies off the 

 eastern side of the island, the .other off the southern. The eastern ground extends from off 

 Siasconsett (north of Old Man's Shoal) northward to off Sankaty Head light, a distance of two 

 miles, and off shore from three-fourths of a mile to two miles, with depths of four and one-half to 

 eleven fathoms. The bottom is gravelly, with mussels and kelp. These grounds are fished on by 

 about seventy dories during the spring and fall. The southern grounds extend westward from 

 Topi Never's Head to Weedweeder Shoal, a distance of four miles, and off shore a distancfe of 

 about one mile. Fishing is carried on in depths of eight to ten fathoms, on sandy and shelly 

 bottoms, by about thirty dories belonging to Nantucket town, but quartering at the South Shore 

 Life-Saving Station. Both cod and haddock are taken in the spring and fall. In the summer 

 this is a good blueflshing-ground, and the fishery is carried on by means of gill-nets and hooks 

 and lines. 



NANTUCKET SOUND. 



Bishop and Clark's Ledge, near Hyannis, is a very rough bottom, with some exposed 

 rocks, and is about one and three-fourths miles long and five-eighths of a mile wide. Pishing for 

 tautog is carried on here, in depths of three to six fathoms, during the entire summer, or from 

 June to October or November. This ledge is visited by large cat-rigged boats from Hyannis, 

 which fish with hook and line. It is also a good ground for lobsters. 



Southwest Ground, Hyannis, extends from the breakwater, off Hyannis, out to Bell 

 Buoy, a distance of about two miles, and westward to Collier's Ledge, a distance of two and 

 one-half miles, with depths of ten feet to four fathoms ; the bottom consists of sand, gravel, and 

 rocks, covered with algae and eel-grass. During June this is considered the best sea-bass 

 ground on the Massachusetts coast. Tautog, scup, and bluefish are also taken from June to 

 October. This ground is frequented by cat-rigged boats from Hyannis, Centreville, and Ootuit. 



Off Cotuit, over an area about two miles square, and with an average depth of three 

 fathoms, gill-net fishing for bluefish is extensively carried on during June and July. As many 

 as three hundred or four hundred gill-nets are often set there at a time. 



Mutton Shoal Ground lies in the outer or southwestern part of Muskeget Channel, and 

 extends about one mile south from Mutton Shoal, with a width of about the same. The depths 

 range from three and three-fourths to four fathoms. Cod and haddock are taken in the spring 

 and fall, and bluefish in the summer, the latter being fished for mainly in the rips at the side of 

 the channel, with hooks and lines. This region is frequented by the so-called " Vineyard-fishing 

 boats" hailing from Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard. 



VINEYARD SOUND. 



Vineyard Sound, from Hedge Fence Shoal, off East Chop, Martha's Vineyard, to east of Gay 

 Head, constitutes one of the most extensive sea-bass grounds of the New England coast. Fishing 

 is carried on everywhere throughout this region in depths of six to twelve fathoms, where the 



