and senate, five years of Oyster Advisory Commission meetings, reading countless books, articles, and research papers about A promising new perspective on New York Harbor history this issue. I have been trying to level the will open up as the Noble Maritime Collection takes over the playing field of information so that people Robbins Reef Light in New York Harbor. Near the entrance to can form balanced opinions about the isrhe much-trafficked Kill van Kull, the 179-year-old beacon in sue of the watermen's future . Maryland has its new role will help build public awareness of the seaport that been active with watermen since the late built the city. This is rhe latest imaginative stroke by the Noble 1800s on the management of oysters. You crew to celebrate the harbor heritage. Last autumn they took over rhe original would be surprised at the number of rimes that watermen have suggested vol untary Sailor's Snug Harbor collection of models, painting and nautical instruments, restrictions on their catches. Watermen are which they brought back to the sailors' home in Staten Island. some of the best empirical biologists in the Formed by the artist-historian Erin Urban after the death of the harbor's state. The plural of anecdote is data. But great seaman artist John Noble in 1983, the fledgling outfit held a memorial then, you have already written them off as service for John in Snug Harbor. This featured a parade of harbor working craft indicated by your "alligator tears" for the sponsored by the National Maritime Historical Society. It fell to me to invite "end of a livelihood that spawned traditions tug dispatchers, pilots and other busy harbor operators, and the vessels gladly and a rich culture." You trot out the same turned out for rhis uncommon tribute to an artist rhey regarded as "one of us." tired, preservationist mantras, informing NMHS volunteers went on to help save Noble's studio barge, what he called his me that you put no more effort into this "little leaking Monticello," which serves now as a stunning centerpiece of the issue than what you glean from the media, Noble Maritime Collection in Snug Harbor at 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten and the organizations to which you beIsland NY 10301, (www.noblemaritime.org). Noble Chairman James Devine, long. Remember, this is not the first time president of the New York Containerport, also serves as board member of Seathat a government-using science-has port Museum New York, an example of the pull-together spirit our world could tried to do away with a "bothersome" miuse more of. -PETER STANFORD nority. As I stated above, water quality is NMHS President Emeritus, Sea History Editor-at-Large the first issue that needs to be addressed. On the issue of natural resources, I disagree with the overdependence on science and country to the status of a world power. You the 6th Maryland Regiment. He remained near total rejection of what has worked in also mentioned Baltimore and the excite- a member until 1815, having participated the past by the regulators and legislators ment that city has retained in relation to in the Barde of North Point, 12 September from the Stare of Maryland. The solutions the war. There are two notable men who 1814, under the command of Brigadier lie in using what works and expanding on are seldom mentioned outside the com- General John Stricker. In 1842 Christian them to include new ideas. Perhaps you will pany of those who were steeped in history Peters was key to the formation of the not mind my suggesting two books: The during their school days in the '40s, and Association of D efenders of Baltimore, and Great Gulf Fishermen, Scientists, and the one person probably at his funeral in 1845 the AssociaStruggle to Revive the World's Greatest Fish- remembered only tion by those in my famof Defenders, ery by David Dobbs (2000) and The Oyster along with a large Question: Scientist Bay since 1880 by Chris- ily. First there were number of other tine Keiner (2009). These two books can Daniel Wells and citizens of Baltibe helpful to people trying to make sense Henry McComas , more, were in atof the situation and get them to table with who were the two teenagers said to have tend ance. In my an open mind. opinion the actions MMe CASTELLI mortally wounded of the determined Chestertown, Maryland British General Robert Ross before the citizens of BaltiBattle of North Point on 12 September more m the Barde of North Point, while War ofl81 2 Your article on the War of 1812 m the 1814. While there is a monument in Bal- overshadowed by the events at Fort McHenry Winter 2010-11 issue of Sea History was timore dedicated to the two young men, the following day, showed the British that very appealing and fascinating to read. I was for the most part their story has not been while they could run roughshod over Washington, Baltimore was another thing. There particularly pleased that you included two remembered outside the city. Then there was Christian Gottlieb is and always has been a spirit in Baltimore things that are of interest to me personally. You mentioned that there are others not Peters, my great-great-great-grandfather. that prompts its citizens to wake 'em up and so memorable as Jackson, Madison, Clay, Peters was a merchant tailor in Baltimore shake 'em up as they did in 181 4. Bos ANSTINE Hull and Decatur who were instrumental who joined the Columbia Blues, under the Marietta, Georgia in that war and other efforts that drew our command of Captain Thomas Sheppard of
Around the Cabin Lamp
SEA HISTORY 134, SPRJNG 2011
7