taken by hand lining. Hake are abundant in September and October. June
is the best fishing month, except when the squid strike the ground in
the fall. This is mainly a small boat ground, fished by trawls, hand
lines and an increasing number of gill nets.

Monhegan Outer Sou'Southeast. Three miles outside the Inner Ground on
the same bearing and similar in size and form. The bottom is rocky and
muddy or of hard clay. The depths are from 35 to 55 fathoms. The same
species are found here as on Inner Sou'Southeast and at the same
seasons, and in addition, hand lining is done for cod in August and
September.

Blue Ground. This is SE 1½ E from Monhegan, distant 14 miles; E 1½ S
from Portland Lightship 45 miles, and SW from Matinicus Rock 9 miles to
southern Edge. Fishermen usually take the Monhegan bearing [12] for their
starting point. This ground has a small shoal in the center, having 28
to 30 fathoms, from which the bottom slopes off to 45 and 60 fathoms on
the edges. The shoal is broken and rocky, bu the deep water is over a
level gravelly bottom. This ground is circular in form and about 2 miles
across. It is both a small-boat and vessel ground, larger craft
operating here mainly in the fall. Hake are found here in large numbers
in summer and fall; cusk are taken in the deep water the year around but
are most abundant in January. Cod are here the year around, the largest
school occurring in February and March.

Monhegan Southeast Ground. This ground lies SE from Monhegan Island,
the center distant 12 miles. This is nearly circular, 3 miles in
diameter. The bottom is so broken that depths may vary much within a
short distance, but depths are from 35 to 75 fathoms over a bottom of
rocks, gravel and mud. Fishing is by trawl and handline. It is good cod