BAFFIN'S BAY. A gulf, or rather sea, on the northeast coast of North Ameriea, extending between that continent and Greenland ; latitudes GS° to 78° N., and longitudes 51° to 80° W. (Map: North America, Al 2). It is about 800 miles long, with an average breadth of 280. Its greatest depth is 6890 feet. The tides do not rise more than 10 feet. The currents are generally toward the south, though on the east side of Davis's Strait and Baffin's Bay a current from Spitzbergen flows northward round Cape Farewell. The bay is scarcely ever free from ice; during four months of the year navigable channels are clear :Hong the coasts with occasional transverse passages. The shores are for the most part lofty and pre cipitous, backed by ranges of snow-clad moun tains. The prevailing rocks are granite and gneiss. Baffin's Bay communicates with the At lantic Ocean by Davis's Strait, and with the Arctic Ocean by Smith Sound on the north and Lancaster Sound on the west. Wellington
Strait, which forms the northwest outlet of Lancaster Sound, was entered in 1852 by Sir E. Belcher. The south shore of Whale Sound, on the east coast, in latitude 77° 20' N., was found by Captain Inglefield in 1852 to be inhabited. There are Danish settlements on Disco and Whale islands. The principal animals inhabit ing the coasts are, on land, bears, black foxes, and hares ; in the sea, the black whale, walrus, and seal, gulls, ducks, and other sea-fowls. Whale and seal fishing are prosecuted to a large extent. Baffin's Bay was first explored in 1615 by William Baffin, after whom it was called, and who was pilot of the expedition, which was com manded by Bylot. Baffin's title to this honor seems to have been most faithfully earned; and the accuracy of his observations and descriptions has been confirmed by subsequent navigators.