called Little Middle Bank. This ridge is 7 2/3
miles S. by W. from Eastern Point Light, Cape Ann. and 1 mile long, NE.
and SW., by 1/2 mile wide. The average depths are 25 fathoms on a rocky
and uneven bottom. Formerly, with Old Man's Pasture and Browns Ledge.
this was considered the principal winter grounds of the cod, but not so
many have been taken here at that season in recent years.
Inside this area, at an average distance of 2 1/2 miles from Eastern Point
Light and between bearings S. 1/2 E. and SW.. are a number of small, rocky
patches having depths of from 10 to 25 fathoms--Browns Ledge, Spot of
Rocks, Saturday Night Ledge, and Burnhams Rocks; SW 1/2 W. from Saturday
Night Ledge, 6 miles, lies Old Tillie. Farther in are two shoal spots
bearing nearly west from Eastern Point. one at 3/4 mile and the other at
2 miles distance, each having 11 fathoms. The first is called Eleven
Fathom Ground. the second, Kettle Island Ledge. This latter lies 1/2 mile
SE. of Kettle Island. These are cod grounds in winter and haddock
grounds in summer. Gill-netters operate from Kettle Island to Halfway
Rock and Italian boats trawl at all seasons off The Graves.
Western Point Ridge. This bears S. by E. 1/2 E. from Eastern Point
Light, distant 9 1/4 miles. Its length NE. and SW. is 1 1/2 miles and its
width is 3/4 mile. The depths average 29 fathoms over a broken and rocky
bottom. Small vessels and boats fish here for cod and haddock in the
summer. Netters take many pollock on all these shore grounds in the fall
runs, October to January furnishing the largest fares. Apparently these
are spawning fish that leave abruptly during January, working offshore
again.
The Dump. This lies inside the lightship at Boston, extending from
this to and well into Nahant Bay. On these inner grounds soundings are
from 12 to 15 fathoms over sand and gravel. This portion is a cod ground
from March to May. The outer parts of the ground have from 15 to 20
fathoms of water over a gravelly and muddy bottom, which usually
furnishes haddocking during the early spring. These are mainly gill-net
grounds.
Inner Bank. This lies SE. from Thacher Island 12 miles to the northern
end, whence it extends in a generally southerly direction for about 10
miles, having an average width of 2 1/2 miles. Depths here average about
40 fathoms on a hard, gravelly bottom, where haddock usually are taken
in the spring, pollock in the fall, and cod in the winter months. This
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