sk ground, these fish remaining here until
April. Over much of the bank the depths range from 30 to 35 fathoms with
a bottom of rocks and gravel. From the edge of the shoaler area the
bottom slopes gradually to 50 or 60 fathoms, beyond which it drops
suddenly to 80 or 90 fathoms over a muddy bottom.

This was considered one of the very best fishing grounds for cod and
haddock in the Gulf of Maine, but the haddock catch here has fallen off
recently. Hake also are very abundant during the summer months and often
during October on the muddy bottom near the edge. Inside 100 fathoms, on
a "punkin" bottom of rocks and gravel, near the mud, haddock are found
from December to March. Cod, pollock, and cusk occur from May to
October, the former on the rocky and gravelly portions, the latter on
the deep soundings, with the Northeast Peak the best summer ground. This
is also an especially good fall and winter ground for haddock. Halibut
are often found in 35 fathoms (small fish) from September through
November; also In spring and early summer. This ground is fished by
vessels from Cape Cod, Mass., to Cutler, Me., mainly by trawling, some
hand-lining, but no gill netting of importance as yet.

Jeffreys Ledge. Jeffreys Ledge may be considered one of the best
fishing grounds in the Gulf of Maine, although of comparatively small
size. It appears to be an extension of the shoal ground that makes off
in an easterly direction from Cape Ann, it is about 20 miles long in a
NE. and SW. direction and about 4 miles wide. Its southern limits is 42
deg. 54' and its northern limit 43 deg. north latitude; its eastern and
western boundaries may be placed at 69 deg. 58' and 70 deg. 18' west
longitude. The bottom is rocky on the shoaler parts, with gravel and
pebbles on the edges. Depths on the bank are from 27 to 35 fathoms,
falling off to 40 or 50 on the edges. The shoalest water lies from 4 to
5 miles N. by E. from the buoy, where there is 22 fathoms. Ordinarily
there is little or no tide, with an occasional current SW. There are,
however, strong westerly currents with the heavy easterly winds, and
often after a period of mild weather with no strong tides there will
suddenly develop a heavy SW. flow, indicating the approach of a strong
northwester. This seems a general rule in the Gulf of Maine and is,
perhaps, prevalent over much of our North Atlantic coast.

Jeffreys Ledge bears S. 1/2 W. from the lightship off Portland, 19 miles
to the north