rong rips, and during rough weather
the sea breaks heavily on them, rendering approach to their vicinity
extremely hazardous.

Over most of the bank the bottom is sand, although patches of rough
ground (gravel, pebbles, and rocks) of greater or less extent are found
in some localities. Its position between the Bay of Fundy and the Gulf
Stream cause the tide to run swifter than on other banks and to swirl
around instead of passing directly over, back and forth. The writer has
seen two men have difficulty in holding an empty dory against the
current.

The Report on the Fishery Industry of the United States, in 1887, says
that the first attempt at fishing here (of which there is any record)
was made in 1821 by three Gloucester vessels. The cod and halibut
industry, according to the same authority, began in 1830, although not
fully established as a permanent industry until 1835.

The area of the whole bank is approximately 8,050 square miles, all of
which, except for the shoals, is available in summer for the taking of
cod, haddock, cusk, halibut, and hake, with a considerable amount of
mackereling and swordfishing, as well as the taking of other species.

During February, March, and April large schools of cod make their
appearance on the bank. At this season these are found most abundantly
on the "Winter Fishing Ground"; a part of Georges lying eastward and
southeastward of the North Shoal between the parallels of 41 deg. 30'
and 42 deg. 00' north latitude and 66 deg. 38' and 67 deg. 30' west
longitude. The area of this Winter Fishing Ground is about 1,100 square
miles. This part of the bank seems entirely given over to the codfish,
since it is too broken, sharp, and rocky to please the haddock. Depths
here are from 30 to 40 fathoms, deepening away from the North Shoal.
This area is essentially a spawning ground for the cod, which appear to
come on the hank from the SE., as they almost invariably, after reaching
the ground, move slowly to the N. and W. as spring approaches. This is
in the direction of the shoals. As soon as the spawning season is over
the schools of cod break up, but more or less fish are caught on
different parts of the ground at all times of the year, though rarely
are they found so plentiful as when the winter school is on the ground.
Cod are found along the Northern Edge virtually the year around, though
many of the winter school move on to the inner waters of the gulf and
others go over to Browns