alibut bank, this, with The Gully and
Quereau--in fact, all one piece of ground--ranks second only to the Grand
Bank Itself. The best fishing here for halibut is found from January to
October. There are numerous places on and about the bank that the
halibut seems to prefer, as the Peak of Pike, 85 miles W. by S. from the
Northwest Light of Sable Island; S. and SW. of Sable Island from 12 to
38 miles; SW. 20 miles in 60 fathoms in May; thence out into 100 and 150
fathoms in June; in fact, following the 100--fathom curve along the
edge of this bank, past the Northeast Peak (40 miles SE. from the
Northeast Light), into the Gully and around the Southern Prong of
Quereau to the Middle Prong. Apparently they leave this piece of bottom
in July. Often the fish are close to the island in the spring, where the
water is so shoal that they can be seen taking the bait or playing with
the hook before taking. In April, May, and June a good halibut ground is
in 18 fathoms 24 miles WNW. from Sable Island.

The Western Bank seems to be a good feeding ground for both cod and
halibut as it abounds in shellfish and crustaceans, and at certain
periods there are many smaller species of fish upon it, such as the lant
and herring, on which these species and the haddock, also, especially
prey. A considerable amount of swordfish is taken here in August and
September, mainly by American vessels.

Banquereau. Separated from the Western Bank by The Gully, this has a
very irregular form--the main bank roughly rectangular, with a narrow
westerly extension of comparatively regular form. Its length, E. and W.,
is about 120 miles, its greatest width about 47 miles, and its total
area about 2,800 miles.

The main portion of the bank lies between 44 deg. 04' and 45 deg. 01' north
latitude and 67 deg. 10' and 59 deg. 00' west longitude, and the western
prolongation lies between 44 deg. 24' and 44 deg. 42' north latitude and
69 deg. 00' and 80 deg. 05' west longitude. North of Banquereau lies
Artimon, distant 3 miles, and Misaine, distant from 2 to 15 miles
according to the places from which measurements are taken. The currents
here are of varying force, much influenced by the wind, so that several
days of strong tides may be followed by intervals when there is little
if any current.

On the eastern part of Quereau is an area of shoal ground called the
Rocky Bottom, having a depth of about 18 fathoms; elsewhere depths run
from 18 to 50 fathoms. For the m