that came in search of seals and whales, fish and phosphates, pearls and oil. The result is a solid if unspectacular Nautical Books & Artifacts introduction to the Free Moil Order Book Catalog • On-line Shopping • Cape Cod Store Open Year 'Round m aritime history of the region. Unfortunately, We Buy Maritime and Naval Book Collections as a history book, it is a 1022 Main St. {Route 6A), West Barnstable, MA 02668 rather straightforward 508-362-1500 • Fax: 508-362-1550 • inlo@columbiotrading.com and, at times, overlysimple presentation: www . columbiatrading . com issues of imperialism, history when we could all unite in our racism, or environmental impact are only excitement and pride in something we, as alluded to in passing. W hile these concerns a nation, were m aking a priority. We can might not be the major focus of the author, thank all who were involved for making it they are important dimensions of the marisuch a great success. Moon Men Return w ill time history of the region that deserve more satisfy anyo ne eager to learn more abo ut than passing attention. the story of Apollo 11. Nonetheless, if the strength of this ANDREW M. MARSH book is not found in its incisive and critiMaplewood, New Jersey cal analysis of the pas t, it can certainly be fo und in the rich vis ual imagery that Maritime History of Baja California acco mpanies the text. Scarcely a page by Edward W Vernon (Viejo Press, Santa goes by without one-and in most cases, Barbara, CA, 2009, xxii + 285pp, m aps, several-high-quality color image of the photos, illus, gloss, biblio, index, ISB N 978- regio n. Photographs, m aps, and charts make this a worthwhile acquisition for 0-5 78-03668-7; $49.95hc) Edward Verno n's Maritime History of those who appreciate m aritime art. On that Baja California is a labor of love, whereby basis alone, Maritime History ofBaja Calione man's fasc ination with the historically fo rnia is a welcome addi tion to the growing, understudied Baja peninsula is shared with but underserved, field of West Coast marihis readers. Described by the author as a time histo ry. It is hoped that the tantalizing photo-journal, this text walks a fine line leads included in this volume stimulate adbetween a coffee-table art book and his- ditional research in this rich field. to rical treatise, which seeks to share the TIMOTHY G. LYNCH, PHD natural beauty and compelling history of The Cal ifornia Maritime Academy, CSU the region with a wider audience. Richly Vallejo, California illustrated with handsom e maps, compelling photographs and satellite imagery, the Remembering Lubec: Stories from the book brings home the beauty of the rugged Easternmost Point by Ronald Pesha (The coastline that m arks both the Sea of Co rtes History Press, Charleston, SC, 2009, l 59pp, and the Pacific Coast of Baja California. illus, biblio, index, ISBN 978-1-59629-625The accompanyi ng text, particularly a 1; $ 19.99 pb) well-crafted introduction, provides a rich We have a tendency to think that lohistorical context for the development of cal hisrories are a dime a dozen, especially various ports in a comprehensive fashion. A when they are other people's local histochapter on "Special Ships" provides fodder ries. Yet within those volumes, historians for naval architects and others who want to working on the greater themes of history learn more about the specifics of the various often find gold. For maritime historians, craft that have plied the waters of the region . the histories of small coastal towns can be The book begins with a chronological as important resources as any great work look at som e twen ty entradas (ports) that on sea power or ancient seafaring history. played an important role in the region. Take, for instance, Ron Pesha's RememberBeginning with Spanish settlement and ing Lubec. One might guess, and correctly development, Vernon takes us through so, that a town of 3,000 people might not the twentieth century, focusing on vessels have nearly as much history, quantitatively,
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as many other American communities, but its unique position as the easternmost point in the continental United States brings w ith it many equally unique themes, the gateway to Newfoundland and Campobello Island, the easternmost lighthouse at West Quoddy H ead, for example. Lubec was once renowned for its sardine canneries, which during World War II received a call from the War Department for three million 100-can-cases per year. Tiut m eant a whole lot of fishing for the men and work in the canneries for the wom en. There's the story of the Pike family: Jabez, the smuggler; Jacob, who took to sea at fourteen and delivered the first load of ice to Barbados as part of a seventeen-year career upon the sea; Carleton, who served as a naval aviator in World War I and as clerk for the Senate Naval Affairs Committee, and who retired a full commander from the Navy in Wo rld War II; and finally Sumner, who was appointed acting chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission by Harry S. Truman. Coas t G uard historians will recognize Hopley Yeaton, the "Father of the Coast G uard," who was commissioned as the first captain of a revenue cutter in the United States. He lived out his final days on the family farm in Lubec, died, and was buried there, only to be exhumed in th e 1970s for re- interment in New London, Connecticut, at the USCG Academy. Yes, Remembering Lubec can be seen as yet another local history title, but it's one that deserves special attention from maritime histo rians wo rking in a broad spectrum of themes. JoHN GALLUZZO Weymo uth, Massachusetts
Cruise of the Dashing Wave: Rounding Cape Horn in 1860 by Philip Hichborn and edited by William H. Thiesen (Un iversity of Florida Press, Gainesville, 2010, 148pp, illus, appen, gloss, biblio, index; ISBN 978-0-8130-3437-9; $24.95 hc) While doing research for his book, Industrializ ingAmerican Shipbuilding (University of Florida Press, 2006), historian William Thiesen stumbled upon the 1860 journal ofship's carpenter Philip Hichborn, in which he recorded his experience during a 143-day passage from Boston to San Francisco. Hichborn's detailed observations of shipboard life and the interactions between shipmates, and his ability to convey SEA HISTORY 133 , WINTER 2010-11