"I really don't know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it is because in addition to the fact that the sea changes and the light changes, and ships change, it is because we all came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have, in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it we are going back from whence we came." JFK   Man and the Sea

Captain Kennedys of Newfoundland

The Down to Sea "Out of Gloucester" website is an incredible memorial to those lost at sea.  Unfortunately it has been DOWN for sometime but I will keep their link confident they will resurface soon.  It had photos of  Captain Clayton Morrissey of the Effie M. Morrissey and HARBOR GRACE born Essex Captain Nathaniel Hackett. 

 Fishing? It was a Way of Life  at "Lost at Sea" is the sister site of "Down to Sea" wherein there are number of interesting articles on "Rum Running" which came into fashion when  fishing was no longer a way of life !! The transport of alcohol is an ancient mariner occupation and was not prohibited in the US until 1920 when the 18th amendment was enacted. The public policy and economic lessons which can be learned from this historical experience are something which need to be examined  closely as the drug war is waged and our involvement and costs increase.  This most definitely puts the Coast Guard on the frontline and raises new concerns involving homeland security since 9/11.   Here are a few interesting links regarding the Navy and alcohol, and prohibition.

Wexford Herring Cot from whence they came and what they came in.

Commodore John Barry, the Wexford born father of the US Navy.

The True Antilles are in Canada  a mystery of history...But if the case is being made for Portugal's discovery of America check out this link.

VIKING SAGA ( a neat flash presentation for the kids)

Gilbert Provost's Ship Website

SMITH'S MASTER INDEX of MARITIME MUSEUM WEBSITES

The below links are likely included in the above index but just in case: