Page:Polar Exploration - Bruce - 1911.djvu/247

Scottish Expeditions during the years 1906, 1907, 1909, in Prince Charles Foreland. (See Scottish Geographical Magazine, vol. xxii, 1906, p. 385; vol. xxiii, 1907, pp. 141–156, 319, 490.) This island, about 54 miles long and about 6 miles wide, forms a considerable part of the west coast of the archipelago of Spitsbergen. Prince Charles Foreland, named after Charles, son of James VI of Scotland, has been known to exist for more than 300 years, yet there has been practically complete ignorance of its form, geology, fauna and flora. Ships passing fear to approach its coasts on account of unknown and often imaginary dangers. Science demanded thorough investigation of this unknown land, and some have been trying to satisfy this demand of the world of science. What is the result? Already, before the work is complete, commerce has followed on the heels of science, and before the Scots left the island in 1907, Norwegian hunters set up three houses for the winter. The Scottish Expedition carried on a considerable amount of local hydrographic work, especially in Foul Sound and in the vicinity of some of the anchorages, and now ships can approach with greater safety the coasts of this previously unknown land, which, until recently, they have justly feared so much. Many other instances of work of this kind could be quoted