ARCTIC ISLANDS 121 



and on the east by Prince Regent inlet, Fury and Hecla strait 

 and Fox channel. As Archaean crystalline rocks occupy the 

 greater part of the island, the Silurian limestones being almost 

 confined to the western side, the coast is very irregular, and is 

 indented by deep bays, especially along the east and north sides. 

 The larger ones on the eastern side, passing northward, are 

 Frobisher bay, Cumberland gulf, Exeter sound, Home bay, 

 Clyde river, Scott inlet, and Ponds inlet, together with many 

 more of considerable size and length. The principal indenta- 

 tions of the northern coast are the long narrow bays named 

 Navy Board and Admiralty inlets. Much of the western coast 

 is at present unexplored, but enough is known of it to say that 

 no very long bays are to be found there. 



Islands are very numerous along those parts of the coast 

 formed of the crystalline rocks, and these vary greatly in 

 size. 



The coast between Ponds inlet and Cape Dier to the north- 

 ward of Cumberland gulf has never been properly surveyed, 

 and the present charts of this part are, according to the whaling 

 captains, quite erroneous. 



The eastern coast of Baffin island is generally high and rocky. 

 The land rises quickly from the sea, often in abrupt cliffs, to 

 elevations of a thousand feet or more, after which the upward 

 slope is more gentle as the land rises towards the interior table- 

 land. The general elevation of the tableland, to the south of 

 Cumberland gulf, ranges from 2,000 to 3,000 feet, while to the 

 northward this wide coastal area is much higher, reaching a 

 general elevation of 5,000 feet, with hills rising above that 

 perhaps one or two thousand feet higher. Inland to the south 

 of Ponds inlet the general elevation does not appear to exceed 

 3,000 feet, and to the westward is considerably lower. The 

 land fronting on Lancaster sound, between Navy Board and 

 Admiralty inlets, is very rough and broken, and rises in the 

 interior to perhaps a general elevation of 2,000 feet. The 



