Since the Viking ascendancy in the Middle Ages, the Atlantic has shaped the lives of people who depend upon it for survival. And just as surely, people have shaped the Atlantic. In his innovative account of this interdependency, W. Jeffrey Bolster, a historian and professional seafarer, takes us through a millennium-long environmental history of our impact on one of the largest ecosystems in the world. While overfishing is often thought of as a contemporary problem, Bolster reveals that humans were transforming the sea long before factory trawlers turned fishing from a handliner's art into an industrial enterprise. The western Atlantic's legendary fishing banks, stretching from Cape Cod to Newfoundland, have attracted fishermen for more than five hundred years. Bolster follows the effects of this siren's song from its medieval European origins to the advent of industrialized fishing in American waters at the beginning of the twentieth century. Blending marine biology, ecological insight, and a remarkable cast of characters, from notable explorers to scientists to an army of unknown fishermen, Bolster tells a story that is both ecological and human: the prelude to an environmental disaster. Over generations, harvesters created a quiet catastrophe as the sea could no longer renew itself. Bolster writes in the hope that the intimate relationship humans have long had with the ocean, and the species that live within it, can be restored for future generations.

"Sea Fishing on the English Coast" is an antiquarian manual of practical instruction on the art of making and using sea-tackle. This comprehensive and timeless handbook also includes a full account of the different tackle-making methods for each month of the year, as well as a detailed guide for sea-fishermen regarding the best watering places on the English coast. Both a handy resource and a splendid antiquarian volume, "Sea Fishing on the English Coast" would make for a great addition to collections of allied literature. The chapters include: “Sea-Fish and Their Haunts – Locality – Weather”, “Read-Made Tackle”, “Baits and Diary”, “Time and Tide”, “May”, “June”, The East Coast”, etcetera. This vintage book is being republished now in an affordable, modern edition – complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on sea fishing.

Excerpt from Practical Sea-Fishing: A Handbook for Sea Anglers From boyhood I have been an enthusiastic Sea-fisherman, and have had the good fortune to capture all kinds of fish, both at home and abroad. A life-long residence by the sea has afforded me peculiar advantages in studying the habits of its occupants, and from experience and close intercourse with professional fishermen a thorough knowledge of the best methods of taking sea-fish has been acquired. In writing the present little volume my object has been to impart to readers less fortunate than myself all the information which has been collected, trusting that it may result in their enjoying better sport, and taking more interest in this delightful pastime. As the title indicates, the aim and purpose of this work is to be practical, and although opinions may differ (as they generally do amongst fishermen) concerning the methods of fishing, I have not described anything without having tested it thoroughly. If I have succeeded by my humble efforts in producing a handbook which can always be referred to with pleasure and profit by all concerned, my labour will more than meet with its reward. Knowing from experience how ignorant some people are respecting Sea-fishing, it has been my endeavour not to omit the smallest details, so that even the tyro may have no difficulty in understanding the descriptions. One important reason why some amateurs often fail in securing good catches is that they quickly become discouraged. My advice to all Sea-fishers is to have patience and persevere, and, guided by the directions given in the following pages, some success is certain to be the result. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.