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Books > Sport & Leisure > Natural history, country life & pets > Wild animals > Aquatic creatures
Combining rich historical detail and a harrowing, pulse-pounding narrative, Close to Shore brilliantly re-creates the summer of 1916, when a rogue Great White shark attacked swimmers along the New Jersey shore, triggering mass hysteria and launching the most extensive shark hunt in history.
During the summer before the United States entered World War I, when ocean swimming was just becoming popular and luxurious Jersey Shore resorts were thriving as a chic playland for an opulent yet still innocent era's new leisure class, Americans were abruptly introduced to the terror of sharks. In July 1916 a lone Great White left its usual deep-ocean habitat and headed in the direction of the New Jersey shoreline. There, near the towns of Beach Haven and Spring Lake-and, incredibly, a farming community eleven miles inland-the most ferocious and unpredictable of predators began a deadly rampage: the first shark attacks on swimmers in U.S. history.
For Americans celebrating an astoundingly prosperous epoch much like our own, fueled by the wizardry of revolutionary inventions, the arrival of this violent predator symbolized the limits of mankind's power against nature.
Interweaving a vivid portrait of the era and meticulously drawn characters with chilling accounts of the shark's five attacks and the frenzied hunt that ensued, Michael Capuzzo has created a nonfiction historical thriller with the texture of Ragtime and the tension of Jaws. From the unnerving inevitability of the first attack on the esteemed son of a prosperous Philadelphia physician to the spine-tingling moment when a farm boy swimming in Matawan Creek feels the sandpaper-like skin of the passing shark, Close to Shore is an undeniably gripping saga.
Heightening the drama are stories of the resulting panic in the citizenry, press and politicians, and of colorful personalities such as Herman Oelrichs, a flamboyant millionaire who made a bet that a shark was no match for a man (and set out to prove it); Museum of Natural History ichthyologist John Treadwell Nichols, faced with the challenge of stopping a mythic sea creature about which little was known; and, most memorable, the rogue Great White itself moving through a world that couldn't conceive of either its destructive power or its moral right to destroy.
Scrupulously researched and superbly written, Close to Shore brings to life a breathtaking, pivotal moment in American history. Masterfully written and suffused with fascinating period detail and insights into the science and behavior of sharks, Close to Shore recounts a breathtaking, pivotal moment in American history with startling immediacy.
By the bestselling author of Four Fish and American Catch, an
eye-opening investigation of the history, science, and business
behind omega-3 fatty acids, the "miracle compound" whose story is
intertwined with human health and the future of our planet Omega-3
fatty acids have long been celebrated by doctors and dieticians as
key to a healthy heart and a sharper brain. In the last few
decades, that promise has been encapsulated in one of America's
most popular dietary supplements. Omega-3s are today a
multi-billion dollar business, and sales are still growing
apace--even as recent medical studies caution that the promise of
omega-3s may not be what it first appeared. But a closer look at
the omega-3 sensation reveals something much deeper and more
troubling. The miracle pill is only the latest product of the
reduction industry, a vast, global endeavor that over the last
century has boiled down trillions of pounds of marine life into
animal feed, fertilizer, margarine, and dietary supplements. The
creatures that are the victims of that industry seem insignificant
to the untrained eye, but turn out to be essential to the survival
of whales, penguins, and fish of all kinds, including many that we
love to eat. Behind these tiny molecules is a big story: of the
push-and-pull of science and business; of the fate of our oceans in
a human-dominated age; of the explosion of land food at the expense
of healthier and more sustainable seafood; of the human quest for
health and long life at all costs. James Beard Award-winning author
Paul Greenberg probes the rich and surprising history of
omega-3s--from the dawn of complex life, when these compounds were
first formed; to human prehistory, when the discovery of seafood
may have produced major cognitive leaps for our species; and on to
the modern era, when omega-3s may point the way to a bold new
direction for our food system. With wit and boundless curiosity,
Greenberg brings us along on his travels--from Peru to Antarctica,
from the Canary Islands to the Amalfi Coast--to reveal firsthand
the practice and repercussions of our unbalanced way of eating.
Rigorously reported and winningly told, The Omega Principle is a
powerful argument for a more deliberate and forward-thinking
relationship to the food we eat and the oceans that sustain us.
Alba the fish has spent her entire life collecting precious objects
that drift down to the ocean floor. From delicate shells to
brightly coloured coral, each year on her birthday she gathers one
more precious item. But over the years, Alba notices her collection
is losing its sparkle and that the world is changing. What are
these bits of plastic and metal? As the coral reef fades, Alba
decides to leave her home behind. Can an old fish teach the world
how to bring colour back to the ocean?
The One-Hundred-Year-Old
Fish gently highlights the issue of pollution. A beautifully
illustrated picture book from exciting new talent Lara Hawthorne.
The tides of the North Atlantic are the world's highest, and they
reveal a world of amazing seashore life--from jellies and sea
anemones, to clams and crabs, to seaweeds and lichens. With some
300 crisp, vibrant color photographs and brief, precise
descriptions, this field guide makes it easier than ever to
identify Atlantic seashore life from Canada to Cape Cod. Duane Sept
covers more than 225 common intertidal species found on rocky
shores, sandy shores, mud beaches, and floating docks, and explains
the natural history of these specialized organisms. He also
describes tidal habitats, tells how to explore the seashore in a
safe and environmentally responsible way, and provides extensive
information on some of the best places in the North Atlantic to
view seashore life. Both casual and dedicated beachcombers will
find this a handy, enjoyable, and reliable guide. * The first
full-color photographic guide to North Atlantic seashore life *
Includes some 300 color photographs and illustrations * Makes
species identification quick and easy * Covers more than 225 common
intertidal species found from Canada to Cape Cod * Covers rocky
shores, sandy shores, mud beaches, and floating docks * Tells how
to explore safely and in an environmentally responsible way *
Provides extensive information on some of the best places to visit
in the Atlantic Northeast
The Great Lakes are home to an impressive variety of fish. The
"Guide to Great Lakes Fishes" describes sixty-two of the region's
most commonly found species, from giants like the sturgeon all the
way down to the minnows and shiners, some of the Lakes' smallest
residents.
Beautiful color illustrations accompany color photographs and
line drawings to highlight distinguishing characteristics of each
fish alongside quick facts about distribution, diet, behavior, and
conservation status. Informative essays on the natural history,
adaptations, and characteristics of Great Lakes fishes are also
included, as well as detailed diagrams of the aquatic habitats and
food chains within the Lakes. This is a must-have guide for every
angler, fishery or wildlife professional, and conservationist. The
paperback edition is printed on waterproof paper.
Gerald R. Smith is Professor Emeritus of Ecology and
Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan and Curator
Emeritus of Fishes for the University of Michigan Museum of
Zoology. He is editor of "Fishes of the Great Lakes Region, Revised
Edition."The University of Michigan Press worked in collaboration
with Michigan Sea Grant on the development of this guidebook, the
second in a series of books about the Great Lakes coast.
The most comprehensive field guide ever compiled for identifying
reef fishes from the Gulf of California to the Pacific coast of
Panama, including offshore islands. Over 500 photographs of 400
species taken in their natural habitat. The book is dedicated to
Baja Legend Alex Kerstitch and includes several of his drawings and
photographs. The concise text accompanying each species portrait
includes the fishs common, scientific and family names, size range,
description, visually distinctive features, preferred habitat,
typical behaviour, depth range, and geographical distribution.
The Caribbean Sea is a semi-enclosed basin of the western Atlantic
Ocean that includes over 8,388 miles (over 13,500 km) of coastline,
a zone that is characterized by coral reefs, mangroves, seagrasses,
sandy beaches, and rocky shores. These tropical ecosystems contain
a high diversity of flora and fauna, and constitute a major marine
biodiversity hot spot. This beautifully illustrated 12-panel
waterproof folding guide to Caribbean Seashore Life highlights 120
species of seashore birds, mammals, seashore creatures, seashells,
nearshore fishes, marine plants and algae, and coastal plants that
are most likely to be encountered along the Caribbean coast. Ideal
for field use by residents and visitors alike. Made in the USA.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS & EDITORS Book Award, Finalist 2014 "A
fascinating discussion of a multifaceted issue and a passionate
call to action" --Kirkus From the acclaimed author of Four Fish and
The Omega Principle, Paul Greenberg uncovers the tragic unraveling
of the nation's seafood supply-telling the surprising story of why
Americans stopped eating from their own waters in American Catch In
2005, the United States imported five billion pounds of seafood,
nearly double what we imported twenty years earlier. Bizarrely,
during that same period, our seafood exports quadrupled. American
Catch examines New York oysters, Gulf shrimp, and Alaskan salmon to
reveal how it came to be that 91 percent of the seafood Americans
eat is foreign. In the 1920s, the average New Yorker ate six
hundred local oysters a year. Today, the only edible oysters lie
outside city limits. Following the trail of environmental
desecration, Greenberg comes to view the New York City oyster as a
reminder of what is lost when local waters are not valued as a food
source. Farther south, a different catastrophe threatens another
seafood-rich environment. When Greenberg visits the Gulf of Mexico,
he arrives expecting to learn of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill's
lingering effects on shrimpers, but instead finds that the more
immediate threat to business comes from overseas. Asian-farmed
shrimp-cheap, abundant, and a perfect vehicle for the frying and
sauces Americans love-have flooded the American market. Finally,
Greenberg visits Bristol Bay, Alaska, home to the biggest wild
sockeye salmon run left in the world. A pristine, productive
fishery, Bristol Bay is now at great risk: The proposed Pebble Mine
project could undermine the very spawning grounds that make this
great run possible. In his search to discover why this precious
renewable resource isn't better protected, Greenberg encounters a
shocking truth: the great majority of Alaskan salmon is sent out of
the country, much of it to Asia. Sockeye salmon is one of the most
nutritionally dense animal proteins on the planet, yet Americans
are shipping it abroad. Despite the challenges, hope abounds. In
New York, Greenberg connects an oyster restoration project with a
vision for how the bivalves might save the city from rising tides.
In the Gulf, shrimpers band together to offer local catch direct to
consumers. And in Bristol Bay, fishermen, environmentalists, and
local Alaskans gather to roadblock Pebble Mine. With American
Catch, Paul Greenberg proposes a way to break the current
destructive patterns of consumption and return American catch back
to American eaters.
Become immersed in the splendour of the sea with this alluring
collection of stickers. Page after page of this book is packed with
vintage drawings of coral, fish, and shells that portray the beauty
of the ocean and the simple pleasures of a day at the beach. Get
creative! Adorn your personal items with more than a thousand
images of marine life, create gorgeous artwork and stationery, or
simply enjoy this book as an exquisite keepsake.
The Cod. Wars have been fought over it, revolutions have been triggered by it, national diets have been based on it, economies and livelihoods have depended on it. To the millions it has sustained, it has been a treasure more precious that gold. This book spans 1,000 years and four continents. From the Vikings to Clarence Birdseye, MarkKurlansky introduces the explorers, merchants, writers, chefs and fisherman, whose lives habe been interwoven with this prolific fish. He chronicles the cod wars of the 16th and 20th centuries. He blends in recipes and lore from the Middle Ages to the present. In a story that brings world history and human passions into captivating focus, he shows how the most profitable fish in history is today faced with extinction.
El presente libro recoge el resultado de la primera revision
linguistica del manuscrito inedito Pisces Gaditana Observata
Gadibus et ad Portus Sa. Maria. 1753. Mens Nov. et Decemb. El
manuscrito fue producido por el botanico sueco Pehr Loefling,
discipulo predilecto de Carlos Linneo y se conserva en el Real
Jardin Botanico de Madrid. Esta escrito en espanol y en latin, es
de gran valor para la historia del lexico andaluz y contribuye a la
datacion etimologica de numerosos ictionimos. Tras exponer una
breve historia del documento, los autores transcriben
exhaustivamente todos los ictionimos contenidos en sus distintos
apartados y realizan un profundo analisis de la ortografia, la
pronunciacion y el lexico. El estudio pormenorizado del corpus
ictionimico ocupa la mayor parte del libro. Cada ictionimo y las
posibles especies asociadas se analizan razonadamente, destacando
los rasgos o indicios que conducen a cada una de ellas, y se aporta
un dibujo cientifico, original de uno de los autores, de la especie
que examino Loefling. Al final, a modo de resumen, se incluye un
anexo de gran utilidad, que contiene el listado completo de
ictionimos y de especies.
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Sea Fever
(Paperback)
Dale Franzen; Illustrated by Don Franzen
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R473
Discovery Miles 4 730
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Ships in 18 - 22 working days
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