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I discovered this author when I read the book Cod that I really enjoyed.
The author, in writing about the history of Gloucester, captures the feel of the city and its inhabitants. He begins with the discovery of the town, and progressing through the history up until the book was written. The author shows some the difficulties that have occurred over the past several centuries.

From the history of the city, the author addresses the reasons that fish stocks are declining and discusses the bitterness found between government regulators and the people who earn a living fishing.
In addition, the book compares similar towns in other countries to allow the reader to realize that this is a problem that exists throughout the world. He also examines the effect of tourism on the towns and the problems tourism can create in working fishing villages. This is something I have never thought of.

This book is a good general look at the history of Gloucester, as well as fish depletion.

Enjoy! To perryfran for the THE release Challenge 2019 - title and E-less Release Challenge 2019 -- author

Received in today's mail. Looking forward to reading this.

Very interesting account of the history of Gloucester, Massachusetts and its fishing industry. The book tells of the earliest explorers of the area including the Vikings, Champlain, and John Smith who arrived there in 1614 and named the area "Tragabigzanda". Kurlansky goes on to tell of the puritans and the trappers who settled the area and turned to fishing as a means of support. He describes the boats used and the many different types of fishing that evolve that would eventually decimate the fisheries not only in New England but throughout the world. He also relates many of the disasters at sea that have been a part of Gloucester history and cites over 5,000 deaths of fisherman lost at sea and he discusses the other people who populated Gloucester through the years including the many artists that used its scenic backdrops in their paintings.



I really enjoyed the stories of Gloucester and how the town has tried to maintain its fishing identity but what will become of Gloucester? Will the fishing industry recover enough for it to be viable again or will it go the way of other fishing towns and cater mainly to tourists and sports fisherman? The depletion of fish and other species is a real concern that makes for a bleak future. "For it to be over, for New England and all the coastlines of the world to house nothing but tourism and yachting, for Tragabigzanda to end after all these centuries, for Gloucester to no longer be Gloucester, would be...unthinkable."

Adding to the Biographies of Things Bookbox.

I received this book as part of the Mary Zee's Biography of Things bookbox. While I did flip through it, I am not going to hang on to it and will send it back on its way to the next recipient in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Received in the Biographies of Things BookBox.

I will release this back into the box.

Released in the Biographies of Things BookBox.

Please enjoy!

Putting back in the box for the Biographies of Things Bookbox. Hope it finds a nice home!

from this round of the bios of things bookbox.
I have read the author's book SALT recently, and about the American Lobster fishing, which likely has interlinking storylines with this book

things bookbox ; The author uses the New England town of Gloucester to discussing the disappearing way of life - commercial fishing. How the town was formed, the changes over the centuries due to population & fish species available and what happened when government got involved. Very good and informative.