Baynes Sound
Encyclopedia
Baynes Sound is the channel between Denman Island and Vancouver Island
, British Columbia
, Canada
. The sound
is a narrow western off-shoot of the Strait of Georgia
that separates Vancouver Island
from the mainland of British Columbia. The area is actively harvested by the local oyster
industry, as is apparent by an abundance of oyster farms
. It produces 39% of the oysters and 55% of the manila clams farmed in British Columbia. The sound is 40 km (24.9 mi) long and is 3.5 km (2.2 mi) wide at its widest point, although the average width is less than 2 km (1.2 mi). The southern boundary lays around Chrome Island, a small island off Boyle Point, the southern tip of Denman. The northern boundary is less defined, but lays between Tree Island at the northern end of Denman and the Comox
harbour. The sound is dotted with the small communities of(north to south) Royston
, Union Bay
, Buckley Bay, Mud Bay, Fanny Bay, and Deep Bay on Vancouver Island. The crossing is serviced by the British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
ship MV Quinitsa
between Buckley Bay and Denman Island. Baynes Sound is named after British Rear Admiral Robert L. Baynes
who commanded the Pacific Squadron
from 1857 to 1860
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The sound
Sound (geography)
In geography a sound or seaway is a large sea or ocean inlet larger than a bay, deeper than a bight and wider than a fjord; or it may be defined as a narrow sea or ocean channel between two bodies of land ....
is a narrow western off-shoot of the Strait of Georgia
Strait of Georgia
The Strait of Georgia or the Georgia Strait is a strait between Vancouver Island and the mainland coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is approximately long and varies in width from...
that separates Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
from the mainland of British Columbia. The area is actively harvested by the local oyster
Oyster
The word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
industry, as is apparent by an abundance of oyster farms
Oyster farming
Oyster farming is an aquaculture practice in which oysters are raised for human consumption. Oyster farming most likely developed in tandem with pearl farming, a similar practice in which oysters are farmed for the purpose of developing pearls...
. It produces 39% of the oysters and 55% of the manila clams farmed in British Columbia. The sound is 40 km (24.9 mi) long and is 3.5 km (2.2 mi) wide at its widest point, although the average width is less than 2 km (1.2 mi). The southern boundary lays around Chrome Island, a small island off Boyle Point, the southern tip of Denman. The northern boundary is less defined, but lays between Tree Island at the northern end of Denman and the Comox
Comox
Comox is a name from the Kwak'wala language, meaning "plenty" and "riches". The Kwakwaka'wakw people of British Columbia, Canada applied it as a metonym to the Salish people living in the area of the present-day town of the same name...
harbour. The sound is dotted with the small communities of(north to south) Royston
Royston, British Columbia
Royston is a small hamlet which is part of the greater Comox Valley region, 100 km northwest of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is situated across the harbour from Comox and just southeast of the municipal boundary of Courtenay...
, Union Bay
Union Bay, British Columbia
Union Bay in British Columbia, Canada is a small community approximately 15 kilometres south of Courtenay, British Columbia, the largest city in the Comox Valley. Union Bay is populated by about 1200 people and is an unincorporated site within the Comox Valley Regional District...
, Buckley Bay, Mud Bay, Fanny Bay, and Deep Bay on Vancouver Island. The crossing is serviced by the British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.
BC Ferries
British Columbia Ferry Services Inc. or BC Ferries is a de facto Crown Corporation that provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry services for coastal and island communities in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
ship MV Quinitsa
Q class ferry
The Q Class ferries are short range ships operated by BC Ferries. Like the similar K Class, they are referred to as minor vessels serving inter-island routes off the coast of British Columbia, Canada.MV Quinitsa* Built: 1977...
between Buckley Bay and Denman Island. Baynes Sound is named after British Rear Admiral Robert L. Baynes
Robert Lambert Baynes
Admiral Sir Robert Lambert Baynes KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station.-Naval career:...
who commanded the Pacific Squadron
Pacific Station
The Pacific Station, often referred to as the Pacific Squadron, was one of the geographical divisions into which the Royal Navy divided its worldwide responsibilities...
from 1857 to 1860