48 PISHING-GEOUNDS OF NOETH AMERICA. 



Southwest Ledge lies about thirteen miles southwest by south from Gay Head, Martha's 

 Vineyard. It is oval in outline, extending about two miles east and west and one and one-fourth 

 miles north and south. The depth of water is about fourteen or fifteen fathoms, and the bottom 

 is rocky and gravelly. This is a very good cod ground, and is resorted to by New York smacks 

 in the summer, and by schooners from New England in the spring, the former using hand-lines and 

 the latter trawls. 



Cos's Ledge is a cod ground, the center of which lies about twenty-three miles southwest 

 one-half west from Gay Head, Martha's Vineyard. It is elongate in shape, being four or five 

 miles long, east and west, and about two miles wide. The depths of water range from fifteen to 

 twenty-two fathoms. The bottom consists of rocks and gravel. Cod are found the entire year, 

 and some haddock are also taken. This ground is frequented by eight or ten smacks from New 

 Bedford and New London, and three large schooners from Fair Haven, Massachusetts, the former 

 using hand-lines, the latter trawls. The smacks fish principally through the summer and the 

 schooners through the early spring. 



Several interesting small areas or "spots" about Cox's Ledge are known to the fishermen. 

 They are of very limited extent, but are noted as furnishing excellent fishing. They are described 

 as follows : 



" Southwest Spot" lies about two miles southwest of the ledge. It has a hard bottom, and 

 a depth of twenty fathoms. "West Spot" is about one-half mile west of the ledge, with the same 

 character of bottom, and a depth of twenty-two fathoms. "Southeast Spot," situated about 

 seven miles southeast of the ledge, has also the same bottom and a depth of eighteen fathoms. 

 Other smaller and less defined spots occur in the same vicinity. 



Bkown's Ledge lies six miles southwest by west from Sow and Pigs (Vineyard Sound) 

 light-ship. It is about two miles square, and has a rocky botto.m, with depths of seven to ten 

 fathoms. Cod are taken here in the spring and fall, and tautog in the fall. This ground furnishes 

 the last tautog of the season for this part of the coast. Fishing is carried on by smacks from 

 New Bedford and Westport, Massachusetts. Some lobsters are caught on this ledge by Noank, 

 Connecticut, smacks. 



THE COAST OF KHODE ISLAND. 



Shark's Ledge bears southeast by south from Block Island light, nine miles to the center. 

 Its length, east and west, is about five miles. This is a rocky ground, with about twenty fatlioms 

 of water, and is fished upon for cod and haddock during the winter, or from November to May or 

 June, by New York smacks and Block Island boats using hand-lines. Fish are generally abundant. 



There are numerous small, rocky patches, without names, but furnishing good cod and 

 haddock fishing, situated to the south and southeast of Block Island, and between that island 

 and Shark's Ledge. The season is the same as for the ledge. Fishing is carried on mainly by 

 Block Island boats. 



Southwest Ledge of Block Island. — The center of this ledge lies about three miles 

 southwest by west one-half west from the southwest head of Block Island. It is about two 

 miles long in a northeast and southwest direction, the inner edge being about two miles off the 

 southwest head. The width of the ledge is about one-half mile; depth of water, five to nine 

 fathoms; character of bottom, rocky. This is a good ground for cod and haddock from November 

 to June. It is visited by New York smacks and Block Island boats. 



Nokth Ground of Block Island lies about one and one-half miles north-northwest of the 

 nun buoy, off the northern end of Block Island, and extends about one mile north and south, and 

 one-half mile east and west. The bottom is rocky and broken. This is a good ground for cod hi 

 the spring, and is visited by the same class of boats that resort to Southwest Ledge. 



