including the documentary records, personal papers, diaries, and oral histories in archives and repositories across chis country and in the UK, France, and Italy. Professor Still acknowledges chat he made major progress in his research for chis work as the holder of the Secretary of the Navy's Research Chair in Naval History at th e Naval Historical Center in 19891990. The navy's leadership should be very pleased chat its investment produced such a magnificent piece of multi-archival research, analysis, and writing. The North American Sociery for O ceanic History recently awarded Dr. Still the prestigious John Lyman Award for outstanding books on US naval history. Crisis at Sea is highly recommended for policy makers, naval officers, scholars, maritime histo ry enthusiasts, and all those with an interest in America's participation in WWI. WILLIAM
S.
of the industry since the 1860s. Most of the pages chat follow contain large color illustrations with Barthelmess's scholarly commentary covering paintings, prints,
D UDLEY, PHD
Harwood, Maryland
Ihe Arts of Modern Whaling by Klaus Barthelmess (Commander Chr. C hristense n's Wh aling Museum, Publication No. 32, Sandefjord Art Association & The Whaling Museum, Sandefjord, Norway, 2007, 58 pp, illus, photos, places, biblio, ISBN 978-82-993797-5-5 ; $24pb) When we consider the artistic creaciviry of whalemen, we generally assign art nomenclature to scrimshaw and illustrated journals created under sail during the nin eteenth century. It might be a surprise, then, to learn chat modern, industrialized whaling operations have also inspired a significant amount of fine and applied arc. Klaus Barchelmess is recognized for his well-documented collection of whaling art and artifacts, and more so for a progressive triennial whaling symposium he has hosted in several venues around his native Germany. H e has assembled, from his collection and from several maritime museums, a temporary exhibition entitled, "The Arcs of Modern Whaling," at the Chr. C hristensen's Hvalfangstmuseum in Sandefjord, Norway. The monograph accompanying chat exhibition is unique- likely the first full discuss ion of modern whaling arcs. Barchelmess begins with a well-crafted essay, "Modern Whaling-Infrastructure and the Arts," which speaks both to the unusual artistic milieu and to the history SEA HISTORY 120, AUTUMN 2007
sculpture, and scrimshaw that shed new light on what has long been considered a dispassionate, mechanized industry. The scrimshaw collection includes traditionally inscribed whales' teeth, but also three-dimensio nal models-one of a harpoon-cannon and another depicting a chaser boat. High-quali ry photographs capture the rarely documented folk art of human caricatures etched into whale ear-bone, as well as paintings on baleen, and fine silversmiching. The illustrations co nclude with rare cannon-harpoons, seldom described in any medium, and a full bibliography. The limited edition 1he Arts ofModern Whaling will become a rare document, and should not be overlooked by maritime art collectors and those interested in the whaling industry worldwide. ROBERT LLOYD WEBB
Phippsburg, M aine
Borderland Smuggling: Patriots, Loyalists, and Illicit Trade in the Northeast, 1783-1820 by Joshua M. Smith (University Press of Florida, Gai nesville, 2006, l 60pp, references, biblio, index, cloth; ISBN 0-8130-2986-4; $55hc) This is one of the best studies of historic human behavior I have read in a while. With an outstanding analysis of extensive archival material, Joshua Smith has moved beyond an interesting story of smuggling,
policies, and local intrigues to offer the reader an understanding of an often-misinterpreted facet of human behavior. Smith's subjects are the people of Passamaquoddy Bay in the turbulent decades after the American Revolution. The newly defined border between the United States and the British colony of New Brunswick ran up the middle of the bay. The border, with all of the political and economi c aspects of an international border, was clear to British and US officials looking at the map. The local people, however, of both European and American Indian descent, had transited Passamaquoddy Bay for economic and social interactions for centuries. Why would they stop because some officials, who had never been there, drew a line on a map? They could see no painted line down the bay. C ustoms and navy officials, looking at the situation on a national level, worked against chem, and people on either team would switch sides, or play on both sides, to fit their needs and desires. Smith expertly constructed a clear, though complex, history of the smugglers, officials, and many associated people that includes their struggles, motivations, and attempts to succeed by constantly shifting tactics. It is an interesting read, as both a story of the people aro und Passamaquoddy Bay, and as a study of how people can be influenced by many variables, such as history, family, micro- and macro-economics, geography, and local, national, and international politics. My only problem with the book is that it was published without even one map of Passamaquoddy Bay. Some knowledge of the local geography is essential to understand some of the actions and motivations Smith describes . I am personally quite familiar with the bay, yet I found myself pull ing out my navigational chart to better understand the text, and still could not find some of the place names he mentions. In sum, chis is a very good book that I think most people who are interested in history and the way people interact will enjoy. Smith writes a good story, bases it on solid interpretation , and provides plenty of details and source leads for those who appreciate them. WARREN Rrnss Bristol, M aine 51