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Did you know that Australia's first industry was not founded on the sheep's back but rather in the deep southern waters off Tasmania? This fascinating account traces the history of Colonial mariners who hunted seals across the Fishery to the point of extinction. From 1798, when an excited Charles Bishop arrived at the Sydney wharves with a boat heaving with seal skins, gangs of men of all nations voyaged to the remote and dangerous islands pursuing skins and oil. Masters employed by Sydney traders captained sealers who were fuelled by hope of making a living from the sea. Some crews thumbed their noses at mainstream operators and set up independently. Most only survived with the help of First Nations people who had hunted seals sustainably for generations. This is the first such narrative exposing the full story of this industry. Through his extensive research and accessible writing style, Australian author David Prior gives you rare insights into a neglected chapter of Australia's history. From respectable ship owners like Robert Campbell to daring pirates like Black-Jack Anderson, this book presents a range of personalities living marginal lives, when greed and competition almost led to the extinction of the seal populations. Be transported into a maritime world full of intrigue and suspense as you navigate the rise and decline of a roller coaster industry. Reflect on the early days of the industry and how the treatment and hunting of seals has evolved not just in Australia, but in other sealing areas such as Canada, where the plundering of seal pups for their fur remains controversial.
David Prior (B.A. M.A., L.L.B.) has always been interested in history. He studied ancient history at school before matriculating to study arts and law at Sydney University. His thesis, completed in 2011, was Pirates Slave Traders Savages or simply misunderstood? Colonial Imagination of the Sealers and the Frustration of Authority. Since then, David's research has led to the publication of Stone Carver: The Life and Times of Franco Vallario, as well as Mariners on the Margins. David is now working on a third manuscript, Beyond Dystopia: The Enduring legacy of the Chief and Missionary. David has reviewed three books on maritime subjects, published in The Great Circle, a journal of the Australian Association for Maritime History. He was recently granted a residency at the Lighthouse Arts Centre at Nobbys in Newcastle. Apart from his interest in Australian colonial history, David is an avid photographer, gardener and plays field hockey at a reasonably high level. He practices part-time as a business family and commercial lawyer.
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