This 1906 volume traces the history of Spitsbergen in the Svalbald archipelago, from its discovery by a Dutch explorer in 1596 to the beginning of its scientific exploration in the nineteenth century. It includes maps, illustrations and a list of the principal voyages to the island from 1847 to 1900.

Preface; 1. Introductory; 2. How Spitsbergen was discovered; 3. Walrus hunting and tentative expeditions; 4. The first hunting expedition to Spitsbergen; 5. The beginning of the Spitsbergen whale-fishery; 6. The troubles in 1613; 7. The events of 1614; 8. The method of the Bay fishery; 9. Troubles with the Dutch in 1617; 10. Troubles at Spitsbergen in 1618; 11. Progress of the whaling industry at Spitsbergen; 12. The final settlement of the Spitsbergen fishery; 13. The first wintering in Spitsbergen; 14. The culmination of the Bay fishery; 15. Smeerenburg's culmination; 16. The decline of English whaling; 17. Whalers' adventures; 18. Incidents of war and other events in Spitsbergen waters; 19. Russian trappers in Spitsbergen; 20. Tschitschagof's expeditions; 21. National expeditions to Spitsbergen; List of the principal voyages to Spitsbergen recorded from 1847 to 1900; Bibliography of the history and geography of Spitsbergen; The cartography of Spitsbergen; Chronological list of maps of Spitsbergen; History of Spitsbergen nomenclature before the nineteenth century; Index.