employed, Finley lays a strong foundation for the significance of whalers of color in the industry. A resource that will appeal primarily to those with an interest in whaling research is the collection of eleven appendices at the back of the book filled with data relating largely to whaling captains of color. Of particular interest will certainly be the list of “(Known) All-Black Whaling Voyages” and the list of “Ships Built and/or Designed by John Mashow.” For those not familiar with the American whaling industry, another appendix offers a fairly comprehensive listing of “American Whaling Ports, 1784– 1928,” including their years of operation. There is much to be said for the idea that race necessarily took a back seat to the more immediate concerns of survival and completion of the voyage. This is particularly true when, as Finley shows, men of color were often the ones most likely to be willing to make repeated voyages to sea, seeing the industry as a means of achieving social standing. While the whaling captains of color represented the pinnacle of achievement, each of them also represented in-
numerable whalers of color who filled every rank from green hand to first mate across the American whaling fleet. Because of this, Finley’s book serves a deeper purpose than just highlighting these 52 captains; it opens up the floor for a deeper discussion of what it meant to be an American whaler, what it meant to be an American—and how that often could shift, depending on one’s locale and profession. Michael Toth Fort Worth, Texas Anaconda’s Tail: The Civil War on the Potomac Frontier, 1861–1865 by Donald G. Shomette (Millstone Publishing, Dunkirk, MD, 767pp, illus, notes, biblio, index, isbn 978-0-578-61322-2; $43.95pb) Donald Shomette’s latest book, Anaconda’s Tail, begins at 400 acres of land at Point Lookout (by Piney Point, Maryland, at the entrance to the Potomac River) and 600 pages later ends at the same place. In between, he explores the military, economic, social, and cultural clashes that occurred during this period, all within the squeezing coil of the “constrictor-like” cor-
don—in a way, a tale of the tail. Wellwritten, thoroughly researched and organized, this fascinating story is narrated with attention to detail. This thought-provoking tome reverberates with the sounds of voices on both sides of the bloody conflict. Because of the book’s length and breadth, writing a review in a limited number of words necessitates selecting a few trees to represent some of this verdant forest of historical episodes. A recurring theme is the Union garrison at Point Lookout, and in particular, its prison. It was heavily populated with
original art of the yankee whale hunt
“O’er the Wide and Tractless Sea”
“O’er the Wide and Tractless Sea”
k original art of the yankee whale hunt By Michael P. Dyer
Michael P. Dyer
Old Dartmouth Historical Society / New Bedford Whaling Museum
Model Ships by Ray Guinta ISBN 978-0-9975161-3-5
P.O. Box 74 Leonia, NJ 07605 201-461-5729 www.modelshipsbyrayguinta.com e-mail: raymondguinta@aol.com Experienced ship model maker who has been commissioned by the National Maritime Historical Society and the USS Intrepid Museum in NYC.
A handsomely illustrated book that sheds light on rarely, if ever, seen paintings, drawings, and whaling artworks. 365 pages | $65.00 whalingmuseum.org 508-997-0046 ext. 127
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