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Page 28
Herring appear about Cape Ann in September in large numbers in most
years, the fishing lasting about two weeks, when the school moves slowly
inward toward the head, and the last catches usually are taken off Minot
Light, Boston. The mackerel, after leaving the coast of Maine in their
autumnal migrations, pass by Cape Ann and enter Massachusetts Bay during
October and November, where they are taken in great number by purse
seiners, netters, and pound nets, of which latter there are many in Cape
Cod Bay, and which take many mackerel and herring in their seasons.
Near the center of Cape Cod Bay, on a line between Race Point and Cape
Cod Canal, lies a rocky elevation on which cod are taken, known as Eagle
Ledge or Bay Ledge, and by Provincetown fishermen as Red Bank. It has a
depth of 13 fathoms. Cape Cod Bay has a considerable Industry in
flounder dragging, the fish being taken by a small type of otter trawl.
South and southeast of Thacher Island from 5 to 8 miles lies a stretch
of muddy bottom with patches of sand scattered over it, where a
considerable amount of this method of fishing is carried on during most
of the year.
Old Man's Pasture. This ground is due S. from Thacher Island, SE. from
Eastern Point Light. Cape Ann, and distant 5 miles. It is about 3/4 mile
long, NNE. and SSW. by 1/ mile wide. The bottom is rough and rocky, with
about 24 fathoms average depths. It is a cod ground for the entire year,
which fish are taken by gill-netters principally in November. Pollock
are taken here, also by gill-netters, from October 1 to December.
Apparently there are few haddock here in the fall, but there is good
fishing for these from February to April 1. It is also a lobster ground.
Harts Ground. This lies S. 1/4 E. from Eastern Point Light. distant
5� miles. It is 3/4 mile long in an ENE. and WSW. direction by 1/4
mile wide, and is a small, rocky patch with a depth of 30 fathoms. It is
a summer haddock ground, visited mainly by small boats. There is little
or no gill netting here.
Eagle Ridge, sometimes called Little Middle Bank. This ridge is 7 2/3
miles S. by W. from Eastern Point Light, Cape Ann. and 1 mile long, NE.
and SW., by � mile wide. The average depths are 25 fathoms on a rocky
and uneven bottom. Formerly, with Old Man's Pasture and Browns Ledge.
this was considered the principal winter grounds of the cod, but not so
many have been taken here at that season in recent years.
Inside this area, at an average distance of 2� miles from Eastern Point
Light and between bearings S. � E. and SW.. are a number of small, rocky
patches having depths of from 10 to 25 fathoms--Browns Ledge, Spot of
Rocks, Saturday Night Ledge, and Burnhams Rocks; SW � W. from Saturday
Night Ledge, 6 miles, lies Old Tillie. Farther in are two shoal spots
bearing nearly west from Eastern Point. one at 3/4 mile and the other at
2 miles distance, each having 11 fathoms. The first is called Eleven
Fathom Ground. the second, Kettle Island Ledge. This latter lies � mile
SE. of Kettle Island. These are cod grounds in winter and haddock
grounds in summer. Gill-netters operate from Kettle Island to Halfway
Rock and Italian boats trawl at all seasons off The Graves.
Western Point Ridge. This bears S. by E. � E. from Eastern Point
Light, distant 9 1/4 miles. Its length NE. and SW. is 1� miles and its
width is � mile. The depths average 29 fathoms over a broken and rocky
bottom. Small vessels and boats fish here for cod and haddock in the
summer. Netters take many pollock on all these shore grounds in the fall
runs, October to January furnishing the largest fares. Apparently these
are spawning fish that leave abruptly during January, working offshore
again.
The Dump. This lies inside the lightship at Boston, extending from
this to and well into Nahant Bay. On these inner grounds soundings are
from 12 to 15 fathoms over sand and gravel. This portion is a cod ground
from March to May. The outer parts of the ground have from 15 to 20
fathoms of water over a gravelly and muddy bottom, which usually
furnishes haddocking during the early spring. These are mainly gill-net
grounds.
Inner Bank. This lies SE. from Thacher Island 12 miles to the northern
end, whence it extends in a generally southerly direction for about 10
miles, having an average width of 2� miles. Depths here average about
40 fathoms on a hard, gravelly bottom, where haddock usually are taken
in the spring, pollock in the fall, and cod in the winter months. This
piece of ground is much fished by the gill-netting fleet out of
Gloucester.
A large area of muddy ground lying E. of this and between it and Middle
Bank is much visited by the flounder draggers out of Boston and
Gloucester. Depths here are from 40 to 55 fathoms over a comparatively
smooth bottom.
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