366 The Squid of the Newfoundland Banks. [ May, 
about seventy-two miles south of the entrance to San Francisco 
bay. The specimens are rather under, than of, the usual size, and 
were obtained at the mouth of a lagoon near Santa Cruz. 
In a few years we may look for its distribution southerly and 
along and around Monterey bay, the shores of which are well 
adapted for this species. As to its introduction at Santa Cruz, I 
hope to be able to give more particular information hereafter. 
a aos 
THE SQUID OF THE NEWFOUNDLAND BANKS IN ITS 
RELATION TO THE AMERICAN GRAND 
BANK COD FISHERIES, 
BY H. L. OSBORN. 
fees broad continental plateau which fringes our eastern coast, 
rises in many places near to the ocean’s surface, and forms 
shallows known in sailor language as “banks.” These banks 
have, on the average, a depth of thirty fathoms, though in some 
places but seven or eight fathoms, and are a favorite resort of the 
several species of our most important food fishes, visiting the 
places to prey upon the many forms of marine invertebrates 
covering these favoring spots in most luxuriant profusion. In 
most cases the banks are not extensive, not more than from ten 
to twenty miles in length, but this rule finds a notable exception 
in the case of the Grand Bank, off Newfoundland. This shoal 
is in shape nearly an equilateral triangle ; its base is two hundred 
and seventy miles long, running east, north-east, and lying some- 
what east of south-east from the island. This northern edge, 
furthermore, is sixty miles distant from land, and the intervening 
water has an average depth of eighty-five fathoms. The edge of 
this shoal is very clearly defined, the water along the northern 
limit falling suddenly, in the distance of only a mile or two, 
from thirty to sixty fathoms, while, on the other sides, the de- — 
scent is frequently very rapid from thirty to one hundred and 
eighty fathoms. It has been noted as the most favorable grounds 
for the capture of the cod since before 1740, at which time 
seventy vessels from Gloucester alone, scoured the banks, and 
since which time the number has fluctuated, till at present more 
than four hundred schooners are engaged in the pursuit. The 
problem of bait has always been a troubling one to this enormous 
