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18. Balaena mysticetus Linnaeus, bowhead whale. 
Eskimo: Aukbik. 
This large whale was formerly found in comparative abundance in 
Davis strait, Baffin bay, and the northern parts of Hudson bay. At the 
present time it is nearly extinct. Low (1906, pp. 256-258) makes the 
following remarks : 
“The favourite resort for whales both in Baffin and Hudson bays is along the edge of 
the ice still fast to the shore, with an abundance of loose ice outside. When the shore ice 
is all melted or loosened they prefer to remain about the edge of the large masses of float- 
ing ice. This habit of remaining close to the ice-masses appears to be due to two causes — 
food and protection. The whale is a very timid animal, and is easily frightened by any- 
thing out of the ordinary; it then either takes to the protection of the lightly packed ice, 
or leaves for distant parts. 
The whales are known to enter Hudson strait early in the spring; they have been 
captured around Big island in April and May, and at the western end of the strait in the 
latter part of May. They then cross to the west side of the bay along the edge of the 
open water, being found in June and early July along the land-floe on both sides of the 
southern part of Roes Welcome. As the Welcome clears of ice they proceed north to 
Repulse bay, and, still later, pass through Frozen strait into Foxe channel. Late in the 
autumn they again pass through Hudson strait going eastward. By far the greater num- 
ber of whales taken in Hudson bay have been killed in the vicinity of Whale point near 
the southern entrance to the Welcome. 
Some whales are supposed to remain during the winter in the waters of Hudson bay, 
as they have been reported by the Eskimo as being seen in the depth of winter off Mans- 
field and some of the more southern islands of the east side of the bay. 
The migration of the whales in Davis strait and Baffin bay is fairly well known. 
In March they are found along the edge of the land floe of Cumberland gulf and Fro- 
bisher bay, where they remain until the beginning of May, when they cross to the Green- 
land coast, and in June are found on the “middle-ground” to the south of Disko. From 
there they follow the shore ice north to Melville bay, and then cross along the southern 
edge of the “north-water” to the western shores of Baffin bay. Should there be a good 
land-floe in Jones and Lancaster sounds, they are found there late in July and in the begin- 
ning of August, but the greater number go south to the mouth of Ponds inlet, where the 
principal summer catch is made. During September and October they are found along 
the western edge of the “middle pack,” and the whalers pass southward from Ponds 
inlet, making use of a number of good harbours known only to themselves on the eastern 
side of Baffin island, and going out only in fine weather. According to the season they 
remain on that coast, to the northward of Cumberland gulf, until the middle or end of 
October, when they leave for Scotland. In October the whales again enter Cumberland 
gulf, and remain along the edge of the newly-formed land ice until December, when their 
position is unknown until their return in the following March. They are supposed to go 
in the meantime, to the southward, off the mouth of Hudson strait and along the northern 
Atlantic coast of Labrador, but the weather there is too severe to permit of the use of 
open whaleboats.” 
19. Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus), common finback whale. 
Low (1906, p. 273) says of this species that it is found in Davis strait, 
chiefly on the cod-banks where it devours immense numbers of fish. As 
it gives a remarkably small quantity of oil for its size it was seldom killed 
either by the whalers or the Eskimo. Kumlien (1879, p. 66) in referring 
to this whale remarks that he cannot positively assert that it frequents 
the Cumberland waters to any great extent. He observed it north of 
Hudson strait and about cape Mercy as well as on the Greenland coast 
in Disko bay. 
