Georges Bank in the Summer of 1981, There Already Had Been an Unprecedented the U.S

OCEANOGRAPHY BOOKS AND VIDEOS Georges \ Bank / Richard H. Backus, Ed., 1988, 593 pp., $165, Hardbound, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. Reviewed by David A. Brooks, Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843. Oil versus fish is the basal reason for this book's existence. By the time exploratory drilling began on Georges Bank in the summer of 1981, there already had been an unprecedented The U.S. Fish Commission schooner Grampus, shown as rigged in 1888 (Photograph from painting by C B Hudson, U.S. National Museum, reproduced in the book Georges Bank). Probably the vessel was similarly public uproar over the potential envi- rigged in 1912, when Henry Bigelow began his pioneering studies with her in the Gulf of Maine and on ronmental impacts of petroleum explo- Georges Bank. The schooner shows her early heritage with an extended bowsprit, plumb stem, and an ration in an area known for centuries for enormous fisherman's staysail set between topmasts• Later versions of "banks" fishing schooners typically its preeminent biological richness and retained an extensive tophamper, because of the additional speed provided and the incentive of being first to market; however, the abrupt forefoot gave way to raked "'spoon'" bows, and bowsprits shortened or dis- diversity. Emotions ran high, interna- appeared altogether in the quest for safety in heavy weather. In the 1920's and 30's, the impetus for speed tional tempers flared, presidents and led directly to the popular international fisherman's races, which are best remembered for vigorous prime ministers parleyed. Public reac- contests between the famous Canadian schooner Bluenose and her U.S. nemesis Gertrude L.Thebaud. The tion ran the gamut from incredulous Grampus, named for a small species of whale related to the dolphin, distinguished herself in service on disbelief that we would consider foul- Georges Bank, in all seasons, sometimes with Bigelow as skipper as well as chief scientist. - DAB. ing our own nest to smug satisfaction copy of Georges Bank arrives. In keep- spectrum of oceanic interests pertain- that we might finally shed our mid- ing with the scale of the debate, the ing to Georges Bank. The 57 chapters eastern energy dependency. In the midst book has coffee-table proportions, 39.3 are organized into major textual divi- of the turmoil, and partly because of it, x 34.6 x 4.1 cm, to be exact. It also has sions entitled Physical Science, Biol- the United States and Canada declared a ponderous heft, weighing in at 5 kg, ogy, The Fisheries, and Conflicting overlapping jurisdictional claims over and the attached invoice delivers an Uses; each division is book-sized on its Georges Bank. The legal scrap that eye-popping bottom line of $165, plus own, with numerous individual papers ensued was only recently settled by the postage. On balance, the typography, on subtopics. The meat of science, International Court, which figuratively paper quality, and artistic design of this which admittedly is indigestable in a scratched a line in the sand across the book are of the first rank, with an un- few places, has been thoughtfully spiced top of the bank, dividing the turf but ex- crowded layout and a generous use of with historical perspectives and anec- acerbating the issues. color. The MIT press (Cambridge, MA) dotal vignettes, and the combination Science, of course, thrives on public deserves to share the credit for this goes down altogether palatably, with attention, so it was impeccably good masterfully produced book, which is no undesirable aftereffects evident. For timing, in early 1980 when the debate especially distinguished by high qual- example, following a rather long slog was heating up, to propose a book ity maps, drawings, photographs, and (for a physical oceanographer, at least) summarizing what was known about artists' renderings. It has taken almost through zooplankton, on to fishes and Georges Bank. Largely because of eight years to bring this book to frui- squids, then whales, and finally to sea- work required to satisfy the mandated tion, an exceptionally long time in these birds, one comes to an absolutely re- Environmental Impact Statements, a days of instant verbiage, but the wait freshing history of the early fisheries on considerable new data set was being has been worthwhile. Ansel Adams is the bank. It's like a breath of fresh sea collected from the bank, and there was probably still secure on the coffee table, air after you've been trapped in the every reason to expect the emergence but Georges Bank threatens to cover engine room for two days. Sailing of a new level of insight and under- many a desk. Editor Backus sums up history buffs will appreciate a 1910 standing 0fprocesses on the bank. Thus, the experience by quoting Melville's photograph of a fine Maine "pinky" the scientific value of a review book similar feelings about his Moby-Dick: schooner. And if this isn't enough to was unquestioned, and once again "Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Pa- recharge your intellectual batteries, adversity spawned opportunity. tience!" The reviewer has exactly the there follows immediately a charming It helps to have the proper socio- same sensation. two page dramatic essay called "Bait political perspective in mind when your The book's 593 pages cover the full Up!" about dory fishing on the bank, complete with luminous illustrations proven wrong in their first attempts, but O C E A N O G R A P H Y from Scribner's Magazine and a one at the same time an uneasy glance at the LETTERS act play staged at sea. map shows just how much territory of The scale of coverage of this book is the bank remains untested. The politi- Editor's note: The fi~llowing excerpts are taken simply stupendous, beyond reasonable cal and economic times are different ])'om letters written in response to a limited sur- review in limited space. The Physical now, too; the mid-east oil cartel is vey, conducted in 1987. which requested opinions Science section, for example, has 19 weakened and crude prices are lower, ahout the need for a proJ~ssional socie O' to repre- chapters in 209 pages that cover the so there is less pressure to take large sent ocean sciences. Approximately l OO responses were received, more than ninety percent of which risks for potentially modest gains. It is geologic history of the bank, weather embraced the concept of The Oceanography So- and climate, tides, circulation and hy- unclear how the United States and ciety. drography, sediment transport, and Canada, with their different approaches dissolved gasses and trace metals, to hit to environmental and petroleum issues, FORUM FOR EXCHANGE only the highlights. The other major will react to the inevitable future pres- The oceans community needs a forum for ex- changing information on a regular and consistent sections are similarly comprehensive, sure for oil exploration on the bank. It is basis. I can envision a number of areas where a with much material drawn from diverse certain that cooperation will be needed, professional journal could be of vital importance literature but augmented in many cases because as this book clearly shows, the in getting out our story and in building support for by recent information that has received currents and fishes on the bank respect ocean science activities. no other publication. Each chapter is no imaginary boundaries. The conse- John Carey National Ocean Service. NOAA accompanied by its own list of refer- quences of a massive oil spill on the ences, an appreciated convenience. bank most likely would be devastating: POWERFUL ARGUMENT There are a few cases of redundancy or they most assuredly would be interna- I am convinced by your powerful arguments that. overlap, inevitable in a review of this tional. indeed, there can be a successful Oceanography Society. As a molecular biological oceanogra- magnitude, but the editor, the authors, The book Georges Bank is of massive pher, I find that, indeed, there is a gap to be filled. and the many reviewers have done an scale and corresponding importance. It Rita Colwell outstanding job of organizing and provides in one source a comprehen- Universi(v of Maryland "smoothing" this book. To explicitly sive overview of the important scien- recognize their efforts, the reviewers' tific knowledge about the bank and its HIGH TIME We need a solid professional society of our own. names are listed at the end of each surrounding waters. Its very existence At AGU meetings, our timetables are constrained chapter, and collectively in an appen- will affect future deliberations about oil by the needs of many other sections, the AMS air- dix; this unusual "sunshine" philoso- exploration on the bank, because there sea interaction meetings duplicate or conflict with phy not only gives due credit for long is no better summary of the state of similar AGU or ASLO sessions, both JGR and JPO are bursting at the seams. It is high time we, labors, it also enhances the scientific knowledge about the bank. In addition ourselves, took responsibility for our meetings merit of the product, for the list of to such practical benefits, which have and our literature. authors and reviewers is extensive and the advantage of immediacy, the book Gabriel Csanady impressive. also provides a lasting contribution to Old Dominion University The last section of the book deserves the scientific literature of Georges Bank, RECOGNIZED FORUM special comment. Backus has titled it the Gulf of Maine, and the two major I am inclined to agree with you that, now more "Conflicting Uses," mostly to reflect channels that connect the gulf with the than ever, there is a need for a sense of community the flavor of articles dealing with the Atlantic Ocean.

Load more