Hudson Bay

an inland sea of Canada. It is one of the largest inlets of the ocean known. The greatest extent from north to south is about 800 miles. The greatest breadth is 600 miles. The sea is open to ships from the middle of June to the end of October. At other seasons it is obstructed by cakes of floating ice. There are excellent fisheries. The right whale is taken in its waters. The eastern shore is rocky and precipitous. The western shore is low and swampy. It is believed that large areas adjacent to the bay, especially on the southwest, may one day be converted into a valuable dairy and stock country; but as yet there are only a few villages on its shores occupied by the fisher and the fur trader.