ant in September. Marks: White Hills over Boon Island on
center (these cross bearings meet near the center of the ground); also,
the Black Hill W. of Portsmouth over the Star Island of the Isles of
Shoals leads to the small rocky shoal that is in the middle of the
ground.

Ipswich Bay. This extends from the north side of Cape Ann about to
Portsmouth and is resorted to in winter by large schools of cod coming
here to spawn. Shore soundings deepen here gradually from the land,
reaching 35 to 40 fathoms at 6 or 7 miles out. Within this limit the
bottom is mainly sandy, though rocky patches are numerous between
Newburyport and Cape Ann. Beyond 40 fathoms the bottom is mainly mud.

The principal cod-fishing grounds of Ipswich Bay lie off the northern
shore, from Newburyport to the entrance of Portsmouth Harbor, 1 1/2 to 5
miles off the land In 12 to 25 fathoms. Cod are taken abundantly off
Boars Head, also. During 1923 and 1924 the cod fishing in these waters,
especially off Boars Head, was the best for some years. Fishing is done
by trawls and hand-lining, and of late years a large and increasing
gill-netting fleet has operated in these waters, especially from March
to June.

The muddy ground outside these waters Is a hake ground much frequented
by small boats and vessels from the Isles of Shoals and Cape Ann during
the summer and fall. "Flounder dragging" Is a considerable industry in
these waters, the craft employed being a small type of the otter
trawler, mainly operating out of Newburyport on a piece of shallow mud
bottom extending from NE. by E. to SE. of the Isles of Shoals and on
another ESE. from Thacher Island. Depths are from 4 to 14 fathoms.

Massachusetts Bay. The larger part of this ground, especially inside
Stellwagens Bank, has a mud bottom, on which large quantities of fish
are rarely taken. On the shore soundings between Boston Harbor and
Plymouth to Sandwich are many rocky ledges, which are favorite feeding
grounds for cod In winter and fall. Off Plymouth, in late March, there
is generally a large school of codfish, from which the gill-netters take
good fares. All over this ground in depths of from 10 to 40 fathoms.
netters from Gloucester and Boston operate in a codfishery In the months
of December, January, and February. There is a considerable hand-line
fishery for pollock in the fall. The gill-netters also take large fares
of this species on these shore grounds as well as about Gloucester,
their fa