Prior to our departure Mr. Giaever had an unfortunate 
accident, spraining his ankle in jumping from a small boat, 
and was laid up for some little time. 
The Laura arrived at Advent Bay at ten A. M. This bay 
July 1st contains the only permanent settlements in Spitzbergen. 
Coal croppings being abundant over the island and, inci¬ 
dentally, adding dreariness to the prospect, two coal concerns 
have located here. One, an American company, is estab¬ 
lished on the south side of the bay, bringing coal from some 
distance inland. 
The miners of this latter were on strike just then— 
“shorter hours, greater pay”—so we coaled on the opposite 
shore, where an Anglo-Norwegian concern had driven a tun¬ 
nel into the mountain side and mined by gravity. 
Coal brings eighteen kroner (20 cents=a kroner) delivered 
aboard. The quality is much like our own Pocahontas. 
Many whalers bring their boats in shore here to coal, 
often getting the supply from the surface. Acting Manager 
Daal, of the concern, and Resident Doctor Ulsted,—Norwe¬ 
gians both,—dined aboard with us this evening. 
[ 42 ] 
