Although the existence of coal in Spitsbergen has been known for a very long time, it is only of recent years that development has been undertaken on any considerable scale. As early as 1610 explorers brought back with them small amounts of coal to burn on the voyage home, and in 1614 the islands were formally claimed for James I by the Muscovy Company. The coal was also described from the scientific point of view by Nathorst and others at various dates, but no attempt was made to work it till about 1904, when the Arctic Coal Company, an American concern, opened a mine at Advent Bay.