Casco Bay

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Casco Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine on the southern coast of Maine, USA. Its easternmost approach is Cape Small and its westernmost approach is Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth. The city of Portland sits along its southern edge.

1 Location
2 History
3 Marine Economy
4 Ecology
5 Transport
6 Major Islands
7 Minor Islands
8 Lighthouses
9 Forts
10 Notes
11 References

[edit] Location

43°38'N 70°03'W

[edit] History

There are two theories on the origin of the name "Casco Bay". One theory is based on Spaniard explorer Esteban Gómez, who explored the Maine coast in 1525 and named the bay "Bahia de Cascos" (Bay of Helmets, based on the shape of the bay). The second theory is based on Aucocisco, the Abenaki name for the bay, which means 'place of herons' (or sometimes translated as 'muddy').^[1]

The islands in the bay are also called the Calendar Islands, based on the popular myth there are 365 islands. This was first reported in 1700 by Colonel Wolfgang William Römer, a British military engineer, who reported there were "as many islands as there are days in the year."^[2]. The United States Coastal Pilot lists 136 islands.^[3] Robert M. York, the former Maine state historian said there are "little more than two hundred islands."^[4]

The bay is also home to abandoned military fortifications dating from the War of 1812 through World War II; During World War II, Casco Bay served as an anchorage for U.S. Navy ships.

The State Historic Site of Eagle Island was the summer home of Arctic explorer Robert Peary.

[edit] Marine Economy

Portland has a substantial fleet of deep-sea fishing vessels, which offload their catch primarily at the Portland Fish Exchange. Numerous towns and islands serve as ports for lobster boats. Recreational fishing boats can also be chartered.

Marinas include

Chebeague Island Boat Yard on Great Chebeague Island
Diamond Marine Service Inc. on Great Diamond Island;
Dolphin Marina in Harpswell
Handy Boat Service Inc. in Falmouth
DiMillo's Old Port Marina, Maine Yacht Center and Portland Yacht Services in Portland
Peaks Island Marina on Peaks Island;
Port Harbor Marina,South Port Marine, Spring Point Marina and Sunset Marina in South Portland
Brewer's and Strouts Point Wharf Co. in South Freeport
Royal River Boat Yard, Yankee Marina and Boatyard and Yarmouth Boat Yard in Yarmouth

During the 1980s and 1990s, Bath Iron Works operated a dry dock in Portland Harbor to repair U.S. Navy vessels, but the operation was discontinued.

[edit] Ecology

Predominant fish in the bay include mackerel, striped bass, and bluefish. Shellfish include lobsters, crabs, mussels, clams and snails.

Harbor seals congregate on certain exposed ledges, and whales on occasion swim into the bay, and in a few instances into Portland Harbor.

Seagulls, cormorants and varying species of ducks are the most common birds; more rarely osprey, eagles and herons have been sighted.

Casco Bay contains bay mud bottoms and banks in some locations, which provide important substrates for biota.

[edit] Transport

The major islands in the bay are served by the Casco Bay Lines ferry service in located at the Maine State Pier in Portland. Peaks Island is served by a car ferry, and during the summer sees 16 ferries a day. The other islands see fewer ferries and no car transport, the Diamonds and Long Island are served primarily by the Diamond Pass run, which is popular with tourists in the summer months. Other services offered by Casco Bay Lines include a daily mailboat run, cruise to Bailey Island, and a sunset run.

Other services such as water taxis are also popular alternatives to the ferry, but are limited to 6 passengers per boat.