BOOKS of this book. Hav ing di ved on the w reck, he is well able to describe the re ma ins, and the harrowing events which led up to the tragedy over 115 years ago . J AMES FORSYT HE
Maj. Forsythe is Deputy Chairman of the World Ship Trust and a f requent contributor to SEA HISTOR Y. Ocean Ships, David Horn sby (Ian Allen, Ltd . , Shepperton, Surrey, Eng. , 1986 , 288pp , illus , £9 .95hb). First published in 1964 , Ocean Ships is a trul y comprehensive guide of the majority of the world 's shipping. It incl udes fleet li sts for the UK and all major northern European owners, as well as the princ ipal national and confe re nce lines operating in Northern Europe . T he author notes that despite little change in many Thi rd World and Eastern Bloc fl eets, less than half the vessels in the 1982 edition are in this new book. Man y of the principal ships in each fl eet are well illustrated with recent photos. A useful addenda is incl uded for new de1iveries and other changes up to the e nd of January 1986. There is a full index. JF American Passenger Ships, Frederick E. Enunons (U niv. of Delaware Press, Newark, DE, 1985, l 84pp, illus, $38.95hb). The overall hi story of American passenger shipping, particul arl y concerning ships under I 0 ,000 gross tons, has been largely and regrettably ignored . F rederick Emmons has gone a long way toward correcting thi s in his latest book , A merican Passenger Sh ips. The 392 shi ps in the book are gro uped generall y by areas of trade, and then under the owner' s name. Each is presented with full vital statistics, builder's name and a complete chro no logical history . There are , however , no photos. Instead , each ship or vessel ty pe is de picted by one of the author's line draw ings,
which are useful but not deepl y detailed. The book also has two pages of color fo r a grouping of fifty-six house fl ags. Although the great and grand notable such as Leviathan and America are included , the real strength of thi s work is in the smaller ships. These include the likes of America Export 's two Exeters and Farrell Line's Afri can Enterprise. The ultimate fa te of these ships, whether it be a wartime sinking or scrapping in some foreign port , is a most intriguing and insightful read . WHM Steady As She Goes, A .E. Fanning (HM Stationary Offi ce Pub!. Ctr., London , 1986, 462pp , illus, £27.50hb). Steady As She Goes is a history of the Compass Department of the British Admiralty fro m its establishment in 1842 until the present day. Cdr. Fanning writes with detailed knowledge of the department from its earliest days th rough the Victori an age and the ri se of iron and steel hull s, and so on to the development of inertial nav igation systems. Thi s is a trul y absorbing, though somewhat technical, book that contributes much to the hi story of modern navigational aids. JF The Art of Knotting and Splicing, Cyrus Lawrence Day, rev. Ray 0 . Beard , Jr., and M . Lee Hoffm an, Jr. (Naval Inst. Press, Annapo li s, MD , 4th ed ., 1986 , 255pp , illus , $ 19.95 pb) . For forty years, beginners and experts alike have been referring to The Art of Knotting and Splicing fo r conc ise, defi niti ve info rmation on the essentials of ropework . The book has survived because with 234 knots it is comprehensive without be ing intimidating , the photographs are clear and beautifull y composed , and the text is charming, thorough and always on the page facing the photograph it describes. The Art of Knotting and Splicing was
FOR SALE
publi shed in 1947 , before the widespread use of synthetic lines and braided constructions on yacht running ri gging. Since most knots work as well in braided Dac ron as they do in three-strand manila, Day's book has avoided becoming obsolete. But over the years, the absence of reference to post- 1940s technology has rendered it increasingly inconvenient. In this new edition, Ray Beard and Lee Hoffman have grafted in information on the characteri stics of various synthetics, including Kev lar , and added a section on splicing double-braided line . The new material is we ll presented , though not quite up to Day's elegant , economical style. But they have not tried to improve on the ori ginal text, and the book is probably good fo r another forty yea rs. BRION TOSS
Mr . Toss is an accomplished ligaturist and author of The Ri gger's Apprentice.
SCHOONERS AND SCHOONER BARGES (Illustrated) - 9x 12 Hardbound , 160 pp.
By Paul C. Morris Over 150 photographs and artwork by author. A phase of maritime history that has gone unnoticed by nautical historians. Beginning at the turn of the century it was a most important aspect of our maritime economy, competition between coastal sc hooners and schooner barges was keen and filled with many exciting aspects; shipwreck was common . This book contains much valuable reference material with respect to the schooner barges. their builders and the companies who owned them.
$25 including postage iMass. residents add $1 .25 sales tax)
Schooners and Schooner Barges Nantucket Nautical Publishers 5 New Mill Street Nantucket, MA 02554
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MARITIME BOOKS at reaso nab le prices Send fo r bi-monthl y li sts.
ten pound island book company 108 Main St. Gloucester, MA 01930 (617) 283-5299
WANT GOOD BOOKS ABOUT BOATS? Send fo r Interna tional Ma rine Books, a great , free catalog of 500 m arine titles. International Marine Publishing Company Box SH , Camden , Maine 04843
SEA HI STOR Y, WINTE R 1986-87
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