to 80 fathoms. It is a cusk ground the year around as well as a year-
around cod ground, also, but this fishing is at its best in the spring.
It is a hake ground on the deeper soundings from September to December.
Fishing here is carried on by trawling, hand-lining, and gill netting.

Big Ridge, or Doggetts. These names are given to a piece of fishing
ground about 8 miles long by 2 miles wide lying 18 miles SE. by S. 1/2 S.
from the lightship at Portland or 14 miles SE. by E. from the same
point, according to which part it is desired to fish upon. It has from
45 on the shoal in the center to 80 fathoms of water on the deeper parts
over a bottom of rocks and gravel on the shallower portions and of mud
about the edges and in the deeper soundings.

Cod are abundant here in spring and fall on the shoaler parts of the
bank and are present the year around on the muddy edges and in the deep
water about it; the spring school, however, is the largest. Hake are
found in spring and summer on the edges in deep water. A few haddock may
be taken in the winter and spring, January to April, inclusive. Cusk can
be taken the year around, the best fishing being in spring and winter.
The February cusk school is the largest, and the best catches are made
in the deep water about the edges of the ground. Fishing here is
principally by trawling, but hand-lining and gill netting also are
employed, the latter method in continually increasing volume.

Lying off Cape Porpoise, between the bearings of SE. and SSE., and at
distances varying from 6 to 8 miles, are a number of small, rocky, or
pebbly bottoms having depths ranging from 18 to 25 fathoms. During
certain seasons these abound in cod and haddock and are visited by the
fishermen of the vicinity.

Tanta. This ground is S. from Cape Elizabeth, the center being distant
12 miles. It is 2 to 3 miles in diameter and has depths of about 40
fathoms over a bottom of broken ground of rocks and gravel. This is a
spring and summer fishing ground for cod. Haddock are present here in
winter, the best fishing being in January, With a few in the spring.
Trawls, hand lines, and gill nets are operated here. Outside of Tanta
(S. 3 miles), in 80 and 90 fathoms on muddy and broken bottom (a
"punkin" bottom), hake and cusk are abundant in February and March, the
hake remaining into the summer. Herring and mackerel usually are present
here in those years when their schools arc abundant in this locality.

Wink