fathoms in June and July; the southwest soundings
and the southeast soundings are most productive always. The best fishing
season is from April to October, when the fish come to this hank to
feed. In the spring the fish, other than halibut, are mostly on the
southwest part, but later (July to October) the best fishing is had on
the northern edge of the ground. The very best herring fishing for large
herring (food fish) occurs on this bank in June and July. In general,
this is a small-vessel ground fished by craft from Cutler, Eastport,
Grand Manan, and, to a less extent, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, with an
occasional visit by craft from Portland and Rockland, chiefly trawlers
of moderate size.

Tides run NE. in flood and SW. on the ebb and are quite strong, the
flood being the heaviest. Because of these powerful currents, fishing is
somewhat difficult, it being necessary to make sets at the slack of the
tides, getting the gear over and traveling with the finish of the
current, to take it up and come back with the tide's return.

Middle Ground. This ground is between Grand Manan Bank and Marblehead
Bank; its length from NW. to SE. is 1 1/2 miles, and it is about 1/2 mile
wide. Depths averaging 37 fathoms are found on the southern edge on a
hard, rocky bottom, increasing to over 60 fathoms over much of the
ground. The remainder of the bank has a bottom of sand and gravel. There
is a shoal of 28 fathoms near the center with a bottom of rocks and
stones. The species and seasons of their abundance are much as on Grand
Manan Bank and German Bank, but the Middle Ground is rather better as a
cod ground than as a ground for other species, June, perhaps, being the
best month for the fishing.

Marblehead Bank. Situated between Grand Manan and German Banks, the
shoal water bearing SSE. from Moosabec Light, distant 32 miles. It is
from 12 to 15 miles long and 7 or 8 miles wide, lying between 44 deg.
00' and 44 deg. 10' north latitude and 66 deg. 58' and 67 deg. 13' west
longitude. There are from 35 to 70 fathoms of water over it; the bottom
is mostly clay and gravel. The principal fishing is for cod, pollock,
and haddock, but there are more or less hake and cusk to be had from
this ground.

The best fishing season is from early spring through the early part of
the summer, and this ground is of little account after July. The same
type of vessels operate here as on the neighboring banks, with an
occasional larger vessel. The craft are