The Atlantic: A History of an Ocean

IT is always a pleasure to acknowledge, whenever possible, the hints, clues, suggestions, ideas, facts, information, services and aids of all kinds that assist one in the making of a book. In the case of the present volume this pleasure must be restrained for a variety of reasons.

In the first place, the Atlantic has always been of interest to me, and the book has been a matter of slow growth. Much of it is a matter of personal observation and experience, such for example as my cruise in Kinkajou and passages in many other vessels. I have tried always to check, supplement and support my observations by reference to written authority, but even with the best intention it has not always been possible to show exactly where authority left off and observation began. At certain points where authority seemed lacking or silent, I have ventured to express my own observations.

In the second place, other parts of the book are based on observations made in museums and exhibits and on reading and research extending over many years. To document the account and to supply it with a full set of notes and references would have made it more difficult to read and more expensive to produce. The author and publisher early agreed that they wished to interest the general reader and to make his trip through the book as easy, pleasant and profitable as possible.

Finally, while it is only fair to acknowledge facts and statements derived from another author, it is unfair to involve him in matters of opinion or judgment. The present author wishes, therefore, not only to thank such authorities as may be named here or in the body of the book for their assistance, but also to free them from involvement in or responsibility for interpretations of facts or judgments of value expressed in this book.

My first indebtedness is to those who taught me to sail and imparted

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