SCRIMSHAW AND SUDDEN DEATH

The art of scrimshaw, the indigenous art carving on the bones and teeth of whales, was practiced by fishermen during those long tedious hours between sightings. But these are not stories of tedium, but rather twelve tales of high adventure, humor, and heroism based on the logs and accounts of Captain Lester Mosher and his experiences on his boat, the Canton. Captain Mosher's adventures lasted the span of his long life and took him over many seas. Here, Brian O'Brien recreates the flavor of the man and his career, achieving moments of high adventure against a background which is consistently vivid and richly documented. Brian O'Brien writes with vigor and fidelity to his topic.