The Maritime Heritage of the Cayman Islands

“The first illustrated nautical history of the Caymans. . . . For those interested in the sea and the history of the Caribbean and for travelers who wish to learn more about the Caymans and their wonderful resources.”--Colonial Latin American Historical Review

“Fascinating information.”--Choice

"Neatly summarizes the history and archaeology of these small islands located at the crossroads of the Caribbean, covering an array of topics as diverse as crocodiles and pirates, the simultaneous wrecking of 10 ships on a treacherous reef, the building of sloops and schooners, and the importance of sea turtles as a food source for colonists and mariners. There is a little bit of everything here, and it is all fascinating."—Kevin Crisman, Texas A&M University

"A fascinating story of how the sea molded the lives of people inhabiting the small and isolated Cayman Islands. . . . The perfect blend of archaeology and history."—William Keegan, curator of Caribbean archaeology, Florida Museum of Natural History

Blending elements of geography, archaeology, and ethnography, this readable, illustrated history offers a fascinating portrait of all aspects of Caymanian nautical traditions and describes how an intrepid and independent group of islanders flourished on the frontiers of the sea.
 From the moment of their discovery by Europeans in 1503, the Caymans were recognized for their abundance of sea turtles, a resource that supported the colonization of the West Indies and fostered the development of a distinctive group of sea-hardened people whose nautical skills were known throughout the world. Roger C. Smith follows the mysterious tracks of the sea turtles and the mariners who hunted them, from the shores of the Caymans to the coastal lagoons of Cuba and finally to the Miskito Cays of Nicaragua. He also pursues the colonial exploits of privateers and pirates, examines the development of island catboats and schooners, and takes the reader underwater to the sites of unlucky ships that wrecked on poorly charted reefs.

Roger C. Smith, state underwater archaeologist for the Florida Division of Historical Resources, is the author of Vanguard of Empire: Ships of Exploration in the Age of Columbus and coauthor of An Atlas of Maritime Florida (UPF, 1997).