Download or read book The Basking Shark in Scotland written by Denis Fairfax and published by Dundurn. This book was released on 1998-01-01 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Basking Shark in Scotland is based on archival sources, early historical works and interviews with surviving shark hunters. This 'gentle giant' of the seas, the largest fish in Scottish waters, is nowadays often in the news as conservationists press for its legal protection. Denis Fairfax provides a full history of the fishery for the shark, its anatomy and its biology. The basking shark's scientific history is treated extensively, including the Loch Ranza specimen featured by Thomas Pennant in his British Zoology. Shark incidents are recounted, including the famous Carradale incident of 1937 when an encounter with a basking shark led to the drowning of three people.
Download or read book A Sea Monster s Tale written by Colin Speedie and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2021-06-08 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There are few marine creatures as spectacular as the Basking Shark. At up to 11 metres in length and seven tonnes in weight, this colossal, plankton-feeding fish is one of the largest in the world, second only to the whale shark. Historically, Basking Sharks were a familiar sight in the northern hemisphere – off the coasts of Norway, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the USA, for example. In an 18th Century world without electricity, they became the focus of active hunting for their huge livers containing large amounts of valuable oil, primarily used in lamps. Catch numbers were small enough to leave populations largely intact, but during the 20th Century a new breed of hunter joined the fray, some driven as much by a need for adventure as for financial gain. With improved equipment and experience, they exploited the shark on an industrial scale that drastically reduced numbers, leading to localised near-extinction in some areas. From the 1970’s onward a new generation took to the seas, this time with conservation in mind to identify where the shark might still be found in the waters around the British Isles, employing new technologies to solve long-standing mysteries about the behaviour of this elusive creature. Using the best of both old and new research techniques, the case was built to justify the species becoming one of the most protected sharks in the oceans. Today, the Basking Shark is a much-loved cornerstone of our natural heritage. There are positive signs that the population has stabilised and may even be slowly recovering from the damage of the past, proving that timely conservation measures can be effective. Join us on a journey amidst wild seas, places, people and conservation history in the battle to protect this iconic creature – a true sea monster’s tale.
Download or read book Harpoon at a Venture written by Gavin Maxwell and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2013-08-20 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this memoir, the Scottish naturalist and author of Ring of Bright Water recounts his post-World War II life as a shark fisherman in the Hebrides. A shark fishery based on the tiny Hebridean island of Soay was the beginning of Gavin Maxwell’s enduring love affair with the west coast of Scotland. This, his first book, tells the whole story—the challenge and drama of the shark hunt, the development of catching techniques and equipment, the men who worked with him, and some of the frustrations of starting a new enterprise in post-war Scotland. Every chapter is packed with action and anecdote. In each there are also beautifully observed descriptions of sky, sea and the individual islands of the Hebrides as well as their wildlife—from gannets, puffins, Manx shearwaters, and fulmars to seals, dolphins, and whales.
Download or read book Basking Sharks written by Nico Barnes and published by Abdo Kids Jumbo. This book was released on 2014-08 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Describes the physical characteristics, behavior, and environment of the basking sharks.
Download or read book Sharks and Their Relatives written by Merry Camhi and published by IUCN. This book was released on 1998 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sharks and their relatives, the rays and chimaeras, are the diverse group of cartilaginous fishes that have evolved over 400 million years. Historically considered of low economic value to large-scale fisheries, today many of these fishes have become the target of directed commercial and recreational fisheries around the world, and they are increasingly taken in the by-catch of fisheries targeting other species. This report emphasizes the widely-acknowledged need to improve shark fishery monitoring, expand biological research and take management action. It serves as an introduction to the ecology, status and conservation of the sharks and their relatives for a general audience. Shark fisheries can only be managed sustainably, and shark populations remain viable, with the introduction of new conservation and management initiatives.
Download or read book Ring of Bright Water written by Gavin Maxwell and published by Longman. This book was released on 1999 with total page 42 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the story of the author's life in Camusfearna, a wild and remote area of Scotland, and of three otters, Chahala, Mijbil and Edal, who became his constant companions.
Download or read book Ring of Bright Water written by Gavin Maxwell and published by David R. Godine Publisher. This book was released on 2016-04-15 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume weaves together the Scottish otter stories from Gavin Maxwell's three non-fiction books, Ring of Bright Water (1960), The Rocks Remain (1963), and Raven Meet Thy Brother (1969). Maxwell was both an extraordinarily evocative writer and a highly unusual man. While touring the Iraqi marshes, he was captivated by an otter and became a devoted advocate of and spokesman for the species. He moved to a remote house in the Scottish highlands, co-habiting there with three otters and living an idyllic and isolated life – at least for a while. Fate, fame, and fire conspired against this paradise, and it, too, came to an end, though the journey was filled with incident and wonder. Maxwell was also talented as an artist, and his sinuous line drawings of these amphibious and engaging creatures, and the homes they occupied, illustrate his story. This book stands as a lasting tribute to a man, his work, and his passion. It was received and has endured as a classic for its portrait not only of otters but also of a man who endured heartaches and disappointments, whose life embodied both greatness and tragedy. He writes with rare eloquence about his birth, his devotion to the beloved Scottish highlands, and the wildlife he loved, while refusing to ignore the darker aspects of his nature and of nature in its larger sense.
Download or read book The Last of the Shark Hunters written by Howard Mccrindle and published by . This book was released on 2016-10-07 with total page 482 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The memories of a Scottish fisherman. Growing up in a typical fishing village on the Southwest coast of Scotland. Taking the reader on a journey from childhood to becoming the most hated and controversial fisherman in the UK. Sharing with the reader the ups and downs, the successes and heartbreaks of fishing. Along the way we meet many of the characters who made the industry what it was as well as learning a lot about the natural lore of the job. The author was so lucky to become a fisherman as the old traditional ways of fishing changed with the advent of modern technology at which he was always at the forefront. Reviving a fishery for basking sharks caused more trouble than he could possibly have imagined.
Download or read book The Poems of Norman MacCaig written by Norman MacCaig and published by Birlinn. This book was released on 2011-05-01 with total page 941 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection of Norman MacCaig's poems is offered as the definitive edition of his work. It has been edited by his son, Ewen. A prolific writer, MacCaig left about 600 unpublished poems after his death; 99 have been selected for inclusion here. The aim of the selection process was to sustain the overall quality of the 1990 Collected Poems, which was compiled by the poet. Unusually, MacCaig's creativity did not decline with age, and most of the unpublished poems date from his seventies and early eighties, adding significantly to his published work from that period. Insight to the writer's life and work is provided in an appreciative introduction by author and critic Alan Taylor, focusing on MacCaig's life and times, and in a collection of MacCaig's words on his own and others' writing.
Download or read book Basking Sharks written by Scott Wallace and published by Transmontanus. This book was released on 2006 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The basking shark, a fish the size of a London bus, used to appear off the BC coast every spring. During World War II, the fish became a nuisance to commercial nets and fishing trollers. Gliding just below the surface, the basking shark was an easy target for a new pest eradication program that touted killing one of the plankton-eating monsters as great sport. By 1970, the basking shark was virtually eradicated in BC. Now researchers Scott Wallace and Brian Gisborne have pieced together what there is to know about this locally extinct ocean denizen. Basking Sharks is Number 14 in the Transmontanus series of books edited by Terry Glavin.
Download or read book Hidden Nature written by Isla Hodgson and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2018-05-30 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks John MuirThis is a book about Britains wildlife; how to discover it, and the adventures we can have with it. Its aim is to show that you dont have to travel to the nether reaches of the Arctic or the deepest corners of the Amazon rainforest to experience weird and wonderful creatures they are right here, on our doorstep.In a world where nature is slowly being replaced by technology and material things, every single one of us could do with appreciating the flora and fauna that we have. To spend time in the outdoors, exploring, searching and learning; teaching ourselves that there is life beyond our laptop screens. And it needs our help. Every day we lose more species, more habitatbut how are we meant to know what to save if we dont know what we will lose?This book is about just that. Written by a young conservationist who hasnt quite grown up, it details her small adventures travelling the UK in search of wildlife encounters, often on a shoestring budget. From ancient forests and coastal wilderness, to bustling city streets and suburban back gardens, nature is everywhere if you know where to look. Featuring unique illustrations and photography, Britains wild things will inspire you to get out there and discover the UKs hidden wilderness.
Download or read book Old Oban written by Michael Hopkin and published by Stenlake Publishing. This book was released on 2000 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the nineteenth century Oban became the transport hub of the Highlands, making it an incredibly easy place to get to for tourists wishing to reach the islands and enjoy the famed scenery of this part of the world. Over a century later, it remains one of most popular Highland destinations. Landmarks such as the McCaig tower and Oban Distillery, plus steam locomotives and the old canopied station, feature alongside a bustling George Street and esplanade. Steamers in the bay, armies of herring gutters on the quay and a photograph of the Oban Hotel on fire add up to a wide-ranging selection of pictures covering the town. Carding Mill Bay, Soroba and Connel Bridge are also featured.
Download or read book Shark Drunk written by Morten Stroksnes and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2017-06-27 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A salty story of friendship, adventure, and the explosive life that teems beneath the ocean The Lofoten archipelago, just North of the Arctic Circle, is a place of unsurpassed beauty—the skyline spikes with dramatic peaks; the radiant greens and purples of the Northern Lights follow summers where the sun never sets. It’s a place of small villages, where the art of fishing, though evolving, is still practiced in traditional ways. Beneath the great depths surrounding these islands lurks the infamous Greenland shark. At twenty-four feet in length and weighing more than a ton, it is truly a beast to behold. But the shark is not known just for its size: Its meat contains a toxin that, when consumed, has been known to make people drunk and hallucinatory. Shark Drunk is the true story of two friends, the author and the eccentric artist Hugo Aasjord, as they embark on a wild pursuit of the famed creature—all from a tiny rubber boat. Together they tackle existential questions and encounter the world’s most powerful maelstrom as they attempt to understand the ocean from every possible angle, drawing on poetry, science, history, ecology, mythology, and their own—sometimes intoxicated—observations, meanwhile pursuing the elusive Greenland shark. By turns thrilling, wise, and hilarious, Shark Drunk is a celebration of adventure, marine life, and, above all, friendship. Winner of the Norwegian Brage Prize 2015 Winner of the Norwegian Critics’ Prize for Literature 2015 Winner of the Norwegian Reine Ord Prize at Lofoten International Literature Festival 2016
Download or read book Sea Room written by Adam Nicolson and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2007-08-14 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1937, Adam Nicolson's father answered a newspaper ad—"Uninhabited islands for sale. Outer Hebrides, 600 acres. . . . Puffins and seals. Apply."—and thus found the Shiants. With a name meaning "holy or enchanted islands," the Shiants for millennia were a haven for those seeking solitude, but their rich, sometimes violent history of human habitation includes much more. When he was twenty-one, Nicolson inherited this almost indescribably beautiful property: a landscape, soaked in centuries-old tales of restless ghosts and Bronze Age gold, that cradles the heritage of a once-vibrant world of farmers and fishermen. In Sea Room, Nicolson describes and relives his love affair with the three tiny islands and their strange and colorful history in passionate, keenly precise prose—sharing with us the greatest gift an island bestows on its inhabitants: a deep engagement with the natural world.
Download or read book Whittled Away written by Padraic Fogarty and published by Gill & Macmillan Ltd. This book was released on 2017-03-01 with total page 359 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Ireland's heritage is being steadily whittled away by human exploitation, pollution and other aspects of modern development. This could represent a serious loss to the nation.' Irish Government Report, June 1969 Nature in Ireland is disappearing at an alarming rate. Overfishing, industrial-scale farming and pollution have decimated wildlife habitats and populations. In a single lifetime, vast shoals of herring, rivers bursting with salmon, and bogs alive with flocks of curlew and geese have all become folk memories. Coastal and rural communities are struggling to survive; the foundations of our tourism and agricultural sectors are being undermined. The lack of political engagement frequently sees the state in the European Court of Justice for environmental issues. Pádraic Fogarty authoritatively charts how this grim failure to manage our natural resources has impoverished our country. But all is not lost: he also reveals possibilities for the future, describing how we can fill our seas with fish, farm in tune with nature, and create forests that benefit both people and wildlife. He makes a persuasive case for the return of long-lost species like wild boar, cranes and wolves, showing how the interests of the country and its nature can be reconciled. A provocative call to arms, Whittled Away presents an alternative path that could lead us all to a brighter future.
Download or read book Scottish Sea Kayaking written by Doug Cooper and published by Pesda Press. This book was released on 2005 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A selection of fifty great sea voyages around the mainland of Scotland and the Western Isles.At last, here it is . Scotland's first guidebook for sea kayakers wishing to explore its amazing coastline and magical islands. It brings together a selection of fifty great sea voyages around the mainland of Scotland, from the Mull of Galloway in the SW to St Abb's Head on the east coast, as well as voyages in the Western Isles, ranging from day trips to three day journeys. Illustrated with superb colour photographs and useful maps throughout, it is a practical guide to help you select and plan trips. It will provide inspiration for future voyages and a souvenir of journeys undertaken. As well as providing essential information on where to start and finish, distances, times and tidal information, the book does much to stimulate and inform our interest in the environment we are passing through. It is full of facts and anecdotes about local history, geology, scenery, seabirds and sea mammals. A fascinating read and an inspirational book.
Download or read book Shark Utilization Marketing and Trade written by Stefania Vannuccini and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 1999 with total page 484 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sharks are only a small proportion of world recorded fish landings, but they are a versatile and valuable resource. They sustain important fisheries in several countries and are a cheap but valuable source of protein for coastal communities dependent on subsistence fisheries. Sharks are exploited for their meat, fins, teeth, cartilage, liver and other internal organs. This report details species used and methods of preparation for various purposes.
