and S. direction and is
about 1 mile wide. Depths run from 19 to 23 fathoms; the bottom is
rocky. The fishing is principally for cod in the fall, winter and
spring. Vessel fishing here is principally in the spring.

Nantucket Shoals. This stretch of bars and deeper waters between,
roughly triangular in form with its apex at the north, lies along the
western edge of the South Channel, extending S. and SE. from the
southern end of Cape Cod and Nantucket Island. From Monomoy Point to
Rogers Fishing Ground, on the eastern edge of Phelps Bank, it is SSE. 80
miles. Its width from Southeast Rips to the western edge of New South
Shoal is 40 miles. The area includes a number of "fishing spots" and
shoals, among which the following are the most important: Pollock Rip
Ground, Rose and Crown Shoal, Great Rip, Davis Bank, Fishing Rip, Old
and New South Shoal, and Phelps Bank.

On and about all these shoals the sail fleet makes good catches, mainly
consisting of cod but with a fair proportion of pollock, also, and in
the deeper water close to them, in spring and summer, a considerable
amount of haddock. An occasional large halibut is taken, and even good
catches have been reported. There were noted in the daily report of the
Boston Fish Bureau between May 15 and August 15, 1920, 10 trips made by
the smaller vessels of the halibut fleet that landed fares of from 2,000
to 10,000 pounds of this species from this area. Perhaps more would be
taken if the halibut fishery were to be followed here as in other areas.
"Rip fishing," as conducted here, is done "at a drift," moving over the
shoals and, as they move off from them, sailing back to repeat the
process. The fish are taken by hand-lining with "cockle" bait or by
"jigging" the fish with a shiny piece of metal representing a herring or
similar fish, below which are set twin hooks, the fish being struck when
it is felt investigating the lure. This fishery generally is carried on
during May, June, July, and August. In the mackerel and herring seasons
these grounds usually furnish good fishing for these species, the fish
usually striking here from May 15 to July 15.

Pollock Rip Grounds. These lie between Pollock Rip Lightship and
Shovelful Lightship and extend northward to Pollock Rip Shoal. These
grounds are 3 miles long, E. and W., by 2 miles N. and S. The depths
range from 4 to 12 fathoms. These are fished from Monomoy and in stormy
weather from Chatham instead of going to the Crab