major conference beginning tomorrow.

Experts from throughout the United States will arrive for the first meeting of its kind in the Island.

It is a combined conference of the Council of American Maritime Museums and the North American Society for Oceanic History.

During the four days at the Southampton Princess Hotel, a vast array of subjects will be discussed by eminent names in maritime archaeology.

The discussion begins with a look at Bermuda's marine archaeology with Mr.

Gordon Watts and Mr. John Morris talking, primarily, about the raising of the Santa Lucia , off Bermuda, two years ago. The operation provided important evidence in the study of 16th Century Spanish ship building.

Later that day the subject of Bermuda's involvement in the American Civil War will be under discussion.

On Friday, discussions involve maritime archaeology in North America and abroad, maritime history, literature, conservation and research.

Particularly interesting is Mr. James Delgado who will speak about the SS Beaver the first steamship on the Pacific Coast of America.

Mr. Delgado will also speak at a public meeting on Monday about the ships that went down during the atomic tests at Bikini Atoll, in the Pacific.

The wide-ranging subjects include Bermuda's customs and treasury records, the Island as a strategic naval base, marine salvage and the history of the Bermuda Race.

Some of the ships under discussion are Snow Squall , CSS Nashville , and Indiana .

On Saturday the guests will be taken on tours of Dockyard and the Bermuda Maritime Museum and, on Sunday, there will be a number of other tours arranged.

Director of the Bermuda Maritime Museum, Dr. Edward Harris said: "This is a good opportunity to get people from abroad to see what we are trying to do in Bermuda.''