Mariners on the Margins

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.