season, but perhaps the most important is that part lying 25 miles E. 1/2 S. from Sankaty Head, Nantucket.  Here is a level, sandy bottom, where, during May, June, July, and August, the otter trawlers operate successfully in 18 to 30 fathoms of water, making a catch that consists principally of haddock, with a considerable proportion of cod, especially in June and July, and with a fair amount also of pollock, cusk, and hake.  Small halibut are fairly abundant here, also, these fish being of from 5 to R pounds, rarely larger.  Flounders are abundant, with a good number of “lemon soles” and “gray soles,” which are very popular with the trade.

The sail fleet operates here also, but, as a rule, more of these vessels are found on the ground lying some 10 miles farther eastward, on the edge of Georges in somewhat deeper water (30 to 50 fathoms) on a rougher and rockier bottom, where there is a greater proportion of cod in the catch than on the western area.

The Sankaty Head ground is about 20 miles long by about 8 miles wide, stretching from 55 miles Se. from Highland Light to 78 miles Se. by S 1/2 S. from the same point (the bottom of the Channel), and is bounded on all sides by pieces of bottom less favorable to the operation of the otter trawl because of the presence of rocks, sponges, or other obstacles, which interfere with the free passage of the net over the bottom but offer less trouble to the line-trawl fishermen.  A good spring haddock ground lies ESE. 65 miles from the Highlands in 70 fathoms. best in March and April.  As the cold weather advances the fish move away in great part from these grounds, going into the deeper water, the catches of the fall and winter months being taken mainly In depths of from 60 to 100 fathoms.  At this season and in these depths the vicinity of the Corner of the Channel, Clarks Side. and the area N and W of the Cultivator usually have a good winter school of haddock.  This has been particularly large during the past three year. (1923 to 1925).  Thus, it may be seen that the Channel is an important ground during most of the year.

The figures of the catch from Clarks Bank have been shown together with those of Georges Bank. of which, in fact, this area is a part.

The larger part of the sail fleet is found fishing on the grounds of the eastern side of the Channel and of the western edge of Georges Bank, in part to escape the damage that the otter trawlers cause to them in dragging away their gear.  It is often impossible for these steamers to avoid some damage of this kind:  especially is this the case in the thick weather so prevalent oil Georges.  In the summer months of the “mackerel years” a large catch of this species is taken from the waters of the Channel.