362 Arctic and Antarctic Exploration [part i 
Island, and passed down Hinlopen Strait. In the follow- 
ing year Sir Martin Conway and Mr Garwood explored 
the interior between Klaas Bille and Wijde Bays, and 
made an ascent of the Horn-sands-tind. This is not 
all, however, that Arctic students owe to Sir Martin 
Conway. Besides his First Crossing of Spitsbergen he 
has published a History of Spitsbergen from its discovery 
to the beginning of the scientific exploration of the 
country, with a complete discussion of the nomen- 
clature — a most useful feature, as the English and 
Dutch were discovering and naming at the same time, 
and overlapping each other 1 . Sir Martin has also edited 
some early Spitsbergen voyages for the Hakluyt Society. 
One of the most recent Arctic events is the transfer 
to the Dominion Government of all the islands north 
of America previously forming part of the territories of 
the British Crown. These islands consist of Baffin 
Island, North Devon, Ellesmere Island, and the whole 
of the Parry Archipelago. 
The Dominion Government resolved to fit out and 
send a steamer to take formal possession. The Gauss 
was bought, which had been specially built at Kiel 
for Antarctic service in 1900, a vessel of 436 tons net, 
with a length of 165 and a width of 37 ft. The command 
was given to Captain Bernier, who in 1902 had en- 
deavoured to obtain funds for a vessel to drift across the 
Pole, taking deep sea soundings, — an able and efficient 
commander who had made a preliminary voyage up 
Barrow Strait in 1907. 
Commander Bernier had three executive officers, two 
engineers, a purser, surgeon, historiographer, meteoro- 
logist, geologist, naturalist, and 31 men; 43 all told. 
Leaving Quebec in July 1908, the Gauss proceeded up 
Davis Strait and Baffin Bay to Etah in Smith Sound. 
Bernier then entered Lancaster Sound, and went up 
Barrow Strait, Melville Sound, and M'Clure Strait, 
examining the Resolutes large depot at Dealy Island. 
He wintered in Parry's Winter Harbour, sending two 
parties across to annex Banks Island and Victoria Island. 
Leaving Winter Harbour on August 12th, 1909, he 
1 No Man's Land, Camb. Univ. Press, 1906. 
