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Page 40
The Channel. [14] The Channel marks the western edge of Georges Bank. Its
boundaries are somewhat indefinite, but the old Eldridge chart states
that for the fishermen the 30 fathom curve running southerly from Race
Point. Cape Cod, limits its western edge. This ground is much visited by
the Boston fleet, both sail and steam, line trawlers and otter trawlers,
the fleet of Gloucester, and the otter-trawl fleet that has developed in
New York in recent years. This area is all good fishing ground in the
proper season, but perhaps the most important is that part lying 25
miles E. � S. from Sankaty Head, Nantucket. Here is a level, sandy
bottom, where, during May, June, July, and August, the otter trawlers
operate successfully in 18 to 30 fathoms of water, making a catch that
consists principally of haddock, with a considerable proportion of cod,
especially in June and July, and with a fair amount also of pollock,
cusk, and hake. Small halibut are fairly abundant here, also, these fish
being of from 5 to R pounds, rarely larger. Flounders are abundant, with
a good number of "lemon soles" and "gray soles," which are very popular
with the trade.
The sail fleet operates here also, but, as a rule, more of these vessels
are found on the ground lying some 10 miles farther eastward, on the
edge of Georges in somewhat deeper water (30 to 50 fathoms) on a rougher
and rockier bottom, where there is a greater proportion of cod in the
catch than on the western area.
The Sankaty Head ground is about 20 miles long by about 8 miles wide,
stretching from 55 miles SE. from Highland Light to 78 miles SE. by S
� S. from the same point (the bottom of the Channel), and is bounded
on all sides by pieces of bottom less favorable to the operation of the
otter trawl because of the presence of rocks, sponges, or other
obstacles, which interfere with the free passage of the net over the
bottom but offer less trouble to the line-trawl fishermen. A good spring
haddock ground lies ESE. 65 miles from the Highlands in 70 fathoms.
best in March and April. As the cold weather advances the fish move away
in great part from these grounds, going into the deeper water, the
catches of the fall and winter months being taken mainly In depths of
from 60 to 100 fathoms. At this season and in these depths the vicinity
of the Corner of the Channel, Clarks Side. and the area N and W of the
Cultivator usually have a good winter school of haddock. This has been
particularly large during the past three year. (1923 to 1925). Thus, it
may be seen that the Channel is an important ground during most of the
year.
The figures of the catch from Clarks Bank have been shown together with
those of Georges Bank. of which, in fact, this area is a part.
The larger part of the sail fleet is found fishing on the grounds of
the eastern side of the Channel and of the western edge of Georges
Bank, in part to escape the damage that the otter trawlers cause to them
in dragging away their gear. It is often impossible for these steamers
to avoid some damage of this kind: especially is this the case in the
thick weather so prevalent oil Georges. In the summer months of the
"mackerel years" a large catch of this species is taken from the waters
of the Channel.
St. Georges Bank, more generally known as Georges Bank. [15] This is
by far the largest and most important fishing ground near the coast of
the United States and is second to none in the western Atlantic except
the Grand Bank of Newfoundland. It lies eastward of Cape Cod and
Nantucket Shoals and is apparently an extension of the latter, since the
water is no deeper between the southern part of the shoals and the
western part of the bank than in many places upon it. Its southern
limit, as shown on the chart, is 40� 40' north latitude, though the
50-fathom line extends 7 miles farther south. The southern limit,
therefore, may be considered to be about 40� 30' and the northern as 42�
08' north latitude. The eastern part is in about 66� and the western in
about 69� west longitude. The greatest length from the northeastern to
the southwestern extremity is about 150 miles; the greatest width, N.
and S., about 98 miles, according to the charts of the Coast Survey.
Depths range from 2 to 50 fathoms. On the western part, between the
parallels of 41� 10' and 41� 53' north latitude and the meridians of 87�
20' and 68� 37' west longitude are a number of shoals, known as the East
Shoal, North Shoal, Southwest Shoal. Cultivator, etc. The Southwest
Shoal is the largest, being 15 miles long SSW and NNE., with an average
width of 2� miles. The position of the center of this shoal is 41�
39' north latitude and 67� 48' west longitude. There are from 2 to 15
fathoms of water on the shoals and between them are depths of from 12 to
30 fathoms. The tide sweeps over these with great force, causing strong
rips, and during rough weather the sea breaks heavily on them, rendering
approach to their vicinity extremely hazardous.
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