A social and economic history of whaling in America traces Captain John Smith's ill-fated expedition to the New World in 1614, through the industry's rise to its nineteenth-century golden years, to its decline in the twentieth century.

A social and economic history of whaling in America traces Captain John Smith's ill-fated expedition to the New World in 1614, through the industry's rise to its nineteenth-century golden years, to its decline in the twentieth century.

The epic history of the 'iron men in wooden boats' who built an industrial empire through the pursuit of whales. Few things can capture the sheer danger and desperation of men on the deep sea as dramatically as whaling. Environmental writer Dolin chronicles the rise of a burgeoning industry, from its brutal struggles during the Revolutionary period to its golden age in the mid-1800s when a fleet of more than 700 ships hunted the seas and American whale oil lit the world, to its decline as the twentieth century dawned. This sweeping social and economic history provides rich and often fantastic accounts of the men themselves, who mutinied, murdered, rioted, deserted, drank, scrimshawed, and recorded their experiences in journals and memoirs. The book also contains a wealth of naturalistic detail on whales.--From publisher description.A social and economic history of whaling in America traces Captain John Smith's ill-fated expedition to the New World in 1614, through the industry's rise to its nineteenth-century golden years, to its decline in the twentieth century.

A social and economic history of whaling in America traces Captain John Smith's ill-fated expedition to the New World in 1614, through the industry's rise to its nineteenth-century golden years, to its decline in the twentieth century. Simultaneous.

Tells the story of the discovery of the northern snakehead in a suburban pond in Crofton, Maryland in the summer of 2002 and the media frenzy which followed this native Asian fish species dubbed the 'Frankenfish.'

Sparkling color photographs animate this exploration of the history, wildlife diversity, and unmatched landscapes of the nationÆs national wildlife refuges. (Biology & Natural History)

Surveys the history of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, describing its structure, current function, and influence on American society.