▁the ▁northern ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁bay ▁and ▁ 5 . 4 ▁m ▁( 1 7 . 7 ▁ft ) ▁in ▁the ▁southern ▁part , ▁while ▁ne aps ▁rise ▁about ▁ 3 ▁m ▁( 9 . 8 ▁ft ). ▁T idal ▁curr ents ▁vary ▁from ▁one ▁to ▁two ▁kn ots . ▁The ▁flo od ▁current ▁generally ▁sets ▁to ▁the ▁south west , ▁while ▁the ▁e bb ▁flows ▁in ▁the ▁opposite ▁direction . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁Between ▁ 1 8 5 4 ▁and ▁ 1 8 8 5 , ▁American ▁wh ales hips ▁frequ ented ▁the ▁bay ▁hunting ▁bow head ▁wh ales . ▁They ▁called ▁it ▁Mercur y ▁or ▁Dim on ' s ▁Bay , ▁after ▁the ▁ship ▁Mercur y ▁( 3 4 0 ▁tons ), ▁of ▁New ▁Bed ford , ▁which ▁visited ▁the ▁area ▁during ▁her ▁voyage ▁of ▁ 1 8 5 2 - 1 8 5 5 , ▁and ▁Francis ▁L . ▁Dim on , ▁her ▁master ▁at ▁the ▁time . ▁They ▁also ▁anch ored ▁at ▁the ▁head ▁of ▁the ▁bay ▁to ▁obtain ▁wood ▁and ▁water . ▁On ▁ 9 ▁July ▁ 1 8 5 5 , ▁the ▁ship ▁Washington ▁( 3 4 0 ▁tons ), ▁of ▁S ag ▁Har bor , ▁was ▁dam aged ▁by ▁ice ▁and ▁run ▁ash ore , ▁being ▁sold ▁at ▁au ction ▁for ▁$ 4 0 0 ▁— ▁the ▁w reck ▁was ▁still ▁visible ▁in ▁October . ▁ ▁Russian ▁sch oon ers ▁and ▁boat ▁cre ws ▁from ▁Mam ga ▁also ▁cru ised ▁for ▁bow head s ▁in ▁the