THE GEAND BANK. 63 



holothurian found there. The depths vary from thirty to thirty-eight fathoms, with a bottom 

 of sand, gravel, pebbles, and smooth, round rocks. In addition to the holothurians, large 

 numbers of star-fishes, periwinkles, crustaceans, bank quahogs, and bank clams also occur. 

 West of 51° west longitude and north of 44° 20' north latitude, in this section, the depths 

 range from thirty-six to fifty-five fathoms, the latter soundings occurring only along the edge 

 of the bank. The bottom is mostly rocky, the rocks being much perforated with a species of 

 boring moUusk. The fishermen's ^ooks frequently catch in these holes and large fragments 

 of the rock are in this manner often brought to the surface. 



Besides many of the lower forms of animal life common to other sections of the Grand 

 Bank, this area especially abounds in crabs and shrimps, and many specimens of octopus have 

 been taken from the stomachs of fish captured here. To the westward of the sixty-fathom line, 

 the bottom slopes more or less gradually to a depth of two hundred fathoms, which it reaches 

 at a distance of ten to fifteen miles from that line. Within the area of this slope the bottom 

 is generally composed of sand or mud ; but along the edge outside of one hundred and fifty 

 fathoms, there occur numerous rocky patches of considerable size. This section, between 44° 

 and 45° 20' north latitude, in depths generally less tha,n 55 fathoms, is more commonly resorted 

 to by the cod fishermen than a-ny other part of the Grand Bank. 



That portion of the bank lying between 45° 20' and 46° north latitude can be considered as 

 a third section, concerning which but very little is yet known. In consequence, the greater part 

 of this region is generally regarded as barren by the fishermen, although, by trial, it is possible 

 that portions of it might furnish good fishing. It has so far been but very little resorted to. 

 This section has depths of thirty-two to fifty-seven fathoms, and embraces a great variety of 

 bottom in its different parts — fine and coarse sand, pebbles, rocks, and broken shells, variously 

 combined. Good catches of cod have been obtained between 50° and 51° west longitude. The 

 "whale deep" occurs on the western part of the section. It is an irregular, shallow depression 

 in the bank, extending nearly north and south, with a length of about forty-five miles and a 

 width of about twenty- three miles. Its southern end lies in about 44° 58', and its northern in ,45° 

 41' north latitude. The extreme eastern part is in about 52° 14' west longitude. It has depths 

 of fifty-seven to sixty-seven fathoms, the bottom consisting of mud. We are not informed as to 

 the origin of the name by which this area is known, but it does not seem very appropriate, for 

 one of its chief characteristics appears to be the absence of whales as well as of fish ; while its 

 shallowness, as compared with the depths at a short distance off the western edge of the bank, 

 is quite marked. 



The fourth or northern section of the Grand Bank comprises all that portion lying north 

 of the parallel of 46° north latitude. It has an elongate triangular shape, Iseing one hundred 

 and eighty miles long on the parallel of 46°, and is about sixty-four miles wide on the eastern 

 part, where it extends to 47° 04' north latitude. Its width near the middle is about forty -five 

 miles. This section includes the Virgin Eocks, which lie in 46° 27' north latitude and 50° 54' 

 west longitude. The area westward of the Virgin Eocks has depths of thirty-seven to fifty- 

 three fathoms, and a diversified bottom of sand, gravel, pebbles, broken shells, and large rocks. 

 It is comparatively little resorted to by the fishing-fleet, and for this reason is less known than 

 most of the other parts of the bank. 



The group of small, rocky shoals, known as the Virgin Eocks, lies between 46° 23' and 46° 

 28' north latitude, and 50° 60' and 50° 58' west longitude. It consists of a large number of 

 submerged elevations, the principal ones being named and characterized as follows: Main Ledge, 

 lying in 46° 27' north and 50° 47' west, depths, three to nineteen fathoms; Brier Shoal, just 



