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Location
43°38'N 70°03'W
History
There are two theories on the origin of the name "Casco Bay". One theory is based on Portuguese 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').
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, an English military engineer, who reported there were "as many islands as there are days in the year.". The United States Coastal Pilot lists 136 islands. Robert M. York, the former Maine state historian said there are "little more than two hundred islands."
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 US Navy ships.
The State Historic Site of Eagle Island was the summer home of Arctic explorer Robert Peary.
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 US Navy vessels, but the operation was discontinued.
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.
Transport
The major islands in the bay are served by the Casco Bay Lines ferry service 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. Great and Little Diamond islands 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 six passengers per boat.
Notable Casco Bay residential areas
From south to north:
Major islands
- Bailey Island
- Bustins Island
- Cliff Island
- Cousins Island
- Cushing Island
- Great Diamond Island
- Great Chebeague Island
- Long Island
- Orr's Island
- Peaks Island
Minor islands
- Basket Island
- Bowman Island
- Clapboard Island
- Cow Island
- Crab Island
- Crow Island
- Eagle Island
- French Island
- Haskell Island
- Hope Island
- House Island
- Irony Island
- Jewel Island
- Lane Island
- Little Bustins Island
- Little Chebeague Island
- Little Diamond Island
- Little French Island
- Little John Island
- Little Mosier Island
- Little Whaleboat Island
- Lower Goose Island
- Moshier Island
- Pettingill Island
- Pound of Tea
- Williams Island
- Sow and Pigs
- Sturdevant Island
- Upper Goose Island
- Upper Green Islands
- The Brothers
- The Goslings
- The Nubbin
- Whaleboat Island
- Williams Island
Lighthouses
Casco Bay is home to 7 lighthouses.
- Cape Elizabeth Lights
- Portland Head Light
- Ram Island Ledge Light
- Spring Point Ledge Light
- Portland Breakwater (Bug) Light
- Halfway Rock Light
- Pocahontas (Echo Point) Light, The smallest lighthouse registered with the United States Coast Guard. It stands only 6 feet tall.
Forts
Newspaper
The newspaper for the islands of Casco Bay is The Island Times, which is a free publication, printed monthly.
Notes
- ^ The Islands of Casco Bay, page 4
- ^ ibid, page 3
- ^ ibid
- ^ http://abacus.bates.edu/pubs/mag/96-Winter/york.html
References
- Caldwell, Bill (1982). The Islands of Casco Bay.
- Bibliography of Casco Bay
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