A photograph of the beautiful coastline of Patagonia. Credit to golero/Getty Images. Today’s map is an antique 173-year-old nautical chart of Patagonia. This chart is rather large, at 26.5 inches long by 38.3 inches wide. It is in pristine condition, with minimal soiling, except for some discolouration on the far left. It focuses on the southern reaches of Argentina, as well as Chile. It also features the Falkland, & South Shetland Islands. In today’s article, we are going to examine this fascinating antique nautical map, discuss it, & analyze it. With that being said, let’s delve into the frigid, unforgiving waters of the South Atlantic! The Chart A 173-year-old antique nautical chart of Patagonia, produced by Aime Robiquet. Credit to raremaps.com. This chart features the southern tip of Patagonia, Tierra Del Fuego, as well as the South Shetland Islands. It is filled with useful navigation information, critical to any mariner of the era looking to navigate Patagonia. It is elegantly decorated with a minimalist cartouche consisting of curved & wavy lines. 3 compasses roses are available throughout, which would have assisted sailors in not losing their way in the formidable Strait of Magellan. It is in French, as it was originally published in Paris. Off the coast of Western Patagonia, the phrase “Les chiffres de Sondes experiment des Métres, Pour convertir les Métres en brasses il fault divisier par 1.62”, which roughly translates to “The figures from the experimental depth soundings are in meters. To convert meters to fathoms, divide by 1.62”. This would have been used by any sailor looking to gauge the depth of the sea surrounding them in order to ensure they would not run aground, & that they had enough swivel to support their anchor. Information for this chart was gathered from 2 primary expeditions, respectively from 1826 to 1830, & from 1831 to 1836. During the first of these expeditions, the HMS Beagle & the HMS Adventure were dispatched by the Royal Navy to explore Patagonia, Tierra Del Fuego, & the Strait of Magellan, with the goal of developing a more advanced understanding of the region for navigation & shipping. Captain Pringle Stokes, the commander of the HMS Beagle, unfortunately passed away by suicide during the voyage. He was quickly replaced by the 23-year-old Lieutenant Robert FitzRoy. After a hostage situation in which a group of Indigenous peoples from Tierra Del Fuego took hold of one of the Beagle’s tenders (support boats), resulting in Captain FitzRoy taking multiple Indigenous individuals hostage, the expedition ended relatively peacefully, having achieved its goals. Upon its return, the HMS Beagle was renovated to have the best scientific & navigational equipment available. A second expedition was then dispatched to the region in 1831, with Charles Darwin in tow. Darwin would go on to make some of the most consequential biological, geological, & geographical observations during this fateful journey, publishing Journal & Remarks, later renamed The Voyage of the Beagle (1839) as a result of the expedition. A watercolour illustration of a group of Indigenous peoples hailing the HMS Beagle somewhere in Patagonia. This illustration was done by English landscape painter Conrad Martens, who joined the HMS Beagle from 1833 to 1834. An Analysis of the Chart The chart was originally published in 1853 by Aimé Robiquet. Aimé Robiquet was a French cartographer, hydrographer, & publisher during the 19th century. Unfortunately, very little is known about his life, including his date of birth & death. His offices were located at Rue Pavée Saint Andre No. 2, in Paris, France. This chart was originally titled “Carte des Cotes de la Patagonie et des Mers du Cap Horn Dressee d'apres de Travaux du Cap.e R. Fitz Roy de la Marine Britannique”, which roughly translates to “Map of the Patagonian Coast and the Seas off Cape Horn, Based on the Surveys of Captain R. Fitz Roy of the British Navy”. Upon reviewing the publishing house, & time it was made, this chart was most likely manufactured using lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing in both color & grayscale until the early 1960s, when more efficient methods became available. Although it has existed since the mid-1790s, it took a long time to gain popularity in Europe due to technical difficulties. It only began gaining commercial popularity in the early 1820s. It is still used for certain kinds of printing today, such as fine art printing, however, digital printing is far more common. In the lithographic method, the artist will draw directly onto a printing surface, such as zinc, or copper, until they are satisfied with the drawing. After this, the surface will be covered with a chemical etch, which will bond it to the surface. With this process, the blank areas will attract moisture to the plate & repel the lithographic ink, while the areas that are drawn on will hold the ink. Water is then wiped onto the unpainted areas to help prevent the ink from deviating. After the image is inked, the paper is laid over it & covered with a tympan, & the tympan is pressed down. Finally, these materials pass through the scraper bar of the litho-press. Afterward, an exact copy of what was supposed to be printed is revealed. It is extremely useful for making high-resolution prints in high quantities. A stunning photograph of Yendegaia Bay National Park, Hornos Island, Chile. This island is located at the southern tip of Tierra Del Fuego, near Cape Horn. Credit to Andreea Lotak. Directories / Credits All credit for the map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com. To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Three J’s Kitchen Presence News Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A photograph of a gorgeous dolphin stampede in Southern California. Credit to Stacie Fox. California’s Pacific coast is one of the most biodiverse and abundant ecosystems worldwide teaming with almost 2000 species of microorganisms, plants, fish, marine mammals, turtles, invertebrates, and seabirds supported by a Mediterranean climate. Its famous offshore, underwater, and coastal rock formations date back to the Cretaceous period and help subsidize this special bionetwork making the state’s ocean waters and sea life sacred and unique. Unfortunately, California’s precious coastal ecosystem also faces massive threats in the vein of climate change/global warming, the devastation of kelp forests, ocean acidification, algal blooms, and habitat destruction; sounding the alarm for the time-sensitive need for human intervention, conservation management, and awareness. The Pacific Tide series highlights monthly oceanic events occurring on the California coast and/or portraits important species who call the Pacific coastline waters home emphasizing the importance of conserving this critical ecosystem. In this month’s installment of The Pacific Tide, we introduce the not-so-glamourous but incredibly astonishing subject of dolphin poop! Dolphin stool is a leading solution against climate change helping absorb Co2 through the Cetacean Carbon Sequestration Cycle; single-handedly fighting greenhouse gases. Also explore with us while we dive among California’s Pacific coral reefs flourishing from under the nutrient benefits of dolphin poop plumes. Discover the U.S. Navy’s dolphin fleet at the Navy Marine Mammal Program and the groundbreaking procedure of dolphin fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) spearheaded by Cardiology Veterinary Consultant, Dr. Barbara Linnehan, using dolphin-to-dolphin trans-rectal transplants to entirely cure dolphins suffering from gastrointestinal disease and maligned gut microbiome flora communities. California: The Dolphin Capital of the World The coastal beaches of California are undisputedly a gorgeous spectacle filled with palm trees, rolling sands, rocky cliff outcrops, dazzling sunsets, and sparkling, blue waters topped with white-capped waves; being well-worthy of its vacation destination title and postcard images. If this visual tapestry wasn’t heavenly enough; it becomes museum-quality when California’s most eminent marine mammals are spotted leaping into the air with the sun glistening off their wet, rubbery skin: dolphins. Renowned for their intellect, problem-solving skills, cheerful disposition, playfulness, and almost human-like social behavior; these Cetaceans (the scientific order including dolphins and whales) have been a ‘fan-favorite’ for generations, from the iconic “Flipper” television sitcom to the Lisa Frank school supplies pasted with colorful dolphin images owned by all 80s and 90s school children and every other derivation imaginable. California is the dolphin capital of the world, home to approximately one million dolphins up and down the Golden Coast. With more dolphins than Alaska, Hawaii and Florida combined; California has a greater density of dolphins per square mile than anywhere on Earth with 12 species of dolphins enjoying the west coast’s Pacific Blue. California’s primary dolphin species – Bottlenose, Common, Pacific White-Sided and Risso’s – are frequently observed swimming in families, pods and mega-pods ranging from 50 to 10,000 dolphins stampeding up to 200 miles daily at a minimum speed of 30 miles per hour with acrobatics added for flair. These California dolphins grow between 8 and 13 feet and recharge their energy bank by consuming 4 to 6% of their body weight, per day. With such a large appetite; dolphins can only thrive in oceans abundant in their favorite meals of a plump fish or slimy squid. California’s Pacific Ocean is the ideal sustenance grocery store for dolphins; ever-stocked with their favorite snacks which is why dolphins can be frequently spotted in both shallow California coastal waters and in the more temperate underwater canyon upwellings of the deeper seas. Dolphins serve a critical role in Pacific Ocean ecosystems being more than just a ‘cute’ gymnast in the oceanic Olympic games; as they are a sentinel species biomarker highlighting the health grade of the marine environment: a higher population of dolphins in the Pacific means the ocean is salubrious and teeming with food sources. Dolphins don’t just ‘take’, however, but also ‘give’ by single-handedly improving their watery home by creating a positive bio-cycle: greater number of dolphins → resultant of food-heavy ocean → resultant of large population of dolphins. How do dolphins act as a superhero of the ocean? It isn’t by donning a colorful cape but rather by means of something less glamorous: their fecal excrement. A photograph of a dolphin defecating in the ocean. Credit to Michelle Green. Is Dolphin Poop the Answer to Amend Climate Change? With upwards of a million dolphins swimming in California’s Pacific waters; this means a LOT of dolphin fecal matter floating in this giant toilet moonlighting as one of the ocean’s most important ecosystem players. Dolphin excrement is rich in nutrients particularly nitrogen, iron, and phosphorus which kick-starts the process of carbon sequestration: the absorption of the over-saturation of carbon dioxide that is the villain behind global warming and climate change. This powerful trifecta recipe in dolphin stool is the favorite metabolic nutrient food source of phytoplankton which acts as the trees of the ocean by undergoing photosynthesis and absorbing the pesky carbon. Matthew Savoca, a Marine Scientist at California’s Stanford University plainly describes phytoplankton as, “When they grow… they’re sucking in carbon dioxide and incorporating that into their cells”. When phytoplankton expires in death; the stored carbon is buried deep within the ocean’s sea beds thus diminishing the volume at the surface attempting to wreak havoc. California’s dolphin headquarters are a prime producer of this beneficial fecal matter with a single dolphin pod estimated to produce upwards of 634 pounds of nitrogen a year. Multiply that by California’s million-dolphin population and you will find that this Cetacean Carbon Cycle is not just benefiting oceanic ecosystem resilience and habitat productivity; but is also fighting global warming by regulating Co2. A diagram depicting the Cetacean Carbon Cycle. Cetaceans will move carbon across the planet both vertically, and latitudinally from north to south. Credit to the International Whaling Commission. Dolphins aren’t bashful with bathroom habits preferring to defecate at the surface with their carbon crusader poop mostly consisting of soft stool clouding the water in a fecal plume. This ‘Dolphin Tap’, coined by scientists, fortifies the carbon absorption cycle with dolphin excrement feeding phytoplankton, zooplankton (such as krill) eating the phytoplankton, fish in turn consuming krill, and finally dolphins imbibing on the fish; basically, making dolphins the regenerators of their own food chain while reducing greenhouse gases. This induction of the Dolphin Tap rightfully earns dolphins their moniker as ‘ecosystem engineers’ by means of reshaping their marine environment physically and biologically simply by being alive. Dolphin poop has been found to be beneficial in combating climate change and in restoring biodiversity; scientists and environmental policymakers are exploring the process of ‘ocean seeding’ to mitigate climate change – biomass ocean regeneration through the dissemination of artificial dolphin poop. Yes, artificial poop. This mock poop behaves akin to natural dolphin stool with identical minerals feeding the phytoplankton at the starting line of the carbon sequestration cycle. Even though this imitation feces is organically sound, using rice husks loaded with the perfect formula of nitrogen, iron, and phosphorus; ocean seeding is still in its infancy, and unknown in the extent of any negative side effects such as ocean deoxygenation. Richard Sabin, the Principal Curator of Mammals at the Natural History Museum in London, England cautions, “'It requires careful research as it's a big step to release detritus of any kind, including nutrient-rich types, into the ocean to make sure that the balance of nutrients and penetration of sunlight isn't adversely affected.” California’s dolphins are already working to save the planet by means of Co2 reduction through their fecal matter but a hero never rests when there is a cry for help; especially when the signal is coming from within the ocean, itself. California’s Hidden Treasure Trove of Corals If you’re planning your next vacation with the itinerary to swim among alluring, colorful coral reefs; you likely assume you need to book a plane ticket to a lush, tropical island or most famously: the Great Barrier Reef. What if I told you that you can find coral reefs in more temperate waters edging the entire California coastline? It might sound like nonsense; but it’s true! California’s corals are the direct definition of the adage of a ‘hidden gem’ even though the state’s shoreline is abundant in these underwater jewels. A photograph of a group of purple hydrocorals off the coast of California. Credit to Gabriel Lu. Traditional corals reside in shallow, warm waters growing and expanding through the process of photosynthesis thriving off the sun’s rays and symbiotic relationships with algal communities. In contrast, California’s reefs are primarily deep-sea corals found at a depth of 10 to 10,000 feet existing on a mineral-nutrient diet rather than solar power which fails to penetrate these depths. Although less famous; California’s coral reefs are a key asset to the Pacific oceanic ecosystem and even boast rare corals that are native to the state’s waters resembling a homage to a candy store with Strawberry Anemone, Bubble Gum Coral, Purple Hydrocoral, and Barrel Sponges sounding more like dessert than sea creatures. Coral reefs can be found parallel to the entire shoreline with the largest reefs living off Catalina Island, another 80 miles off the Monterey coast at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (Davidson Seamount), Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and the mighty Sur Ridge in Central California’s waters. California’s corals are more than just a Candyland board game and are essential marine ecosystem players being the adhesive holding together the sea beds and providing a habitat for sea plants and animals. If these reefs were to become metaphorically bulldozed; California’s coastal waters would suffer an identity crisis with the extinction of tide pools, kelp forests, and in turn: marine animals and plants. These corals are of such importance that lawmakers have zoned each California reef as a marine sanctuary area and prohibit the alteration, destruction, or taking of the precious California corals. A photograph of a gorgeous orange coral reef near Santa Catalina Island, CA. Credit to Brian Huang. Corals have existed off the shores of California for thousands of years with many of today’s reef generations being formed over multiple centuries. Age doesn’t protect these corals from modern-day damage, global warming, or being highly threatened by ocean acidification and bottom-trawling fishing. Central California’s waters are characteristically low in pH hastening acidification and the destruction of the bio-diversity of its corals. Humans are also ill-fated for these gems of the sea with scientists finding evidence of pesticides, trash, ghost fishing gear, anchors, and toxic chemicals at a depth of 12,000 feet testing the resilience of these mighty but fragile reefs. "The California coast could be considered the front line for ocean acidification damage, within 50 years, and certainly by the end of the century. As ocean acidification due to our C02 emissions intensifies along this coast, those corals are gonna have a hard time," clarifies Jim Barry, a marine biologist working at California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Scientists, ocean conservationists, California oceanic restorationists, and lawmakers have worked in tandem to protect and restore corals by implementing artificial rock reefs up-and-down the coast dating back to as early as 1958. Although these efforts are celebrated; the real guardians of corals aren’t manmade but a bit closer to home…You guessed it: dolphin poop! Dolphin Poop: The Knight in Shining Armor to Coral Reefs The cornucopia of corals in California’s coastal waters is increasingly threatened by rising water temperatures, elevated levels of carbon, ocean acidification, and man-made stressors such as overfishing causing an urgent level of panic among marine biologists and ocean conservationists. These colorful relatives of jellyfish and sea anemones are critical to California’s oceanic ecosystem in support of biodiversity and seabed infrastructure. Corals have an evolutionary flaw of being anemic of phosphorus and nitrogen – two key nutrients they absolutely require to flourish and grow. In swoop the dolphins with their superpower feces that are rich in this coral cocktail. California’s dolphins are creatures of habit with regimented schedules opting to spend extended periods of time ‘resting’ in sheltered parts of the sea before venturing in the pursuit of the hunt or play. Where do dolphins like to metaphorically spend a lazy morning and conserve their energy? In the peaceful, undisturbed deep-sea corals of the Pacific. During this respite period, these dolphin pods defecate frequently providing the exact nutrients that corals desperately demand making dolphin poop a vital ally in coral maintenance and restoration. Scientists have even discovered that dolphins return to the coral habitats after the hunt to digest their prey which means even more pool plumes gifted to the corals solving reef grief. Marine studies have concluded evidence of dolphins being consistent nutrient transporters to coral communities with data collected between 2013 and 2022 showing that a single dolphin excretes almost half a pound of beneficial poop a day (81 pounds a year) and spends 36% of their waking hours in coral reefs. Extended to pods, 3000/5300 pounds of dolphin nutrient waste is absorbed directly by corals, annually. In order to protect California corals; it is vital to sequentially protect dolphins with their savior poop. Dolphins are the chief marine species to encounter human activity exposure 82% of the day spread across tourism, boats, freight vessels, fishing, and even offshore drilling. Marine mammal advocates stress the importance of passing dolphin-protection policies against human-centric threats in order to maintain their benefits to coral (and oceanic) ecosystems. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) upheld a governing law in Hawaii declaring a 50-yard approach limit to spinner dolphins (who have been proven to protect and restore Hawaii’s corals) within two nautical miles of the shoreline. California’s marine scientists and activists seek similar protections for the Golden State’s cetaceans. The Healing Power of Dolphin Poop Transplants You’ve heard of Navy SEALs, but have you heard of Navy Dolphins? Bottlenose dolphins, that is! In 1959, the United States Navy founded the ‘Marine Mammal Program’ under the tutelage of the Reconnaissance and Interdiction Division at the Naval Information Warfare Center in Point Loma (San Diego), California. This program trains bottlenose dolphins (and California sea lions) to participate in U.S. Navy missions including the detection of undersea mines, the attachment of recovery lines, and even James Bond-esque security detail for the recognition of unauthorized or suspected ‘enemies’ in California’s coastal waters. If protecting the California shoreswasn’t heroic enough; the U.S. Navy dolphin fleet also facilitated the discovery of a marine mammal medical breakthrough using none other than their amazing poop! Dr. Barbara Linnehan, the Navy Marine Mammal Program’s Cardiology Veterinary Consultant was serving in her role as the Director of Animal Health & Welfare (2022- 2025) studying the delicate gut microbiomes of the dolphin fleet; when she documented dolphins suffering from gastrointestinal infirmities not responding to standard veterinary antibiotics. A dolphin’s intestinal system and gut microbiome host 80% of its immune system working in cahoots with the rest of the dolphin’s organs to keep overall health, in check. Dr. Linnehan was familiar with the practice of transplanting fecal stool from a healthy human host to that of a gastro-maligned recipient better known as fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs); and it dawned on her that fecal transplants could potentially be replicated among cetaceans. Linnehan and her veterinary team spearheaded a groundbreaking dolphin-to-dolphin fecal transplant resulting in the complete recovery of the gastrointestinal suffering of the ailing dolphin. A table depicting the steps of an FMT transplant. Credit to the study Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantations in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) using metagenomic sequencing. To explore this new field of dolphin fecal microbiota transplants; Linnehan teamed with Sho Kodera of the Gilbert Lab at the Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine at University of San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography to conduct a first-of-its-kind comprehensive study and implementation of dolphin FMTs. From January 2019 to February 2022, scientists transplanted stools collected from healthy dolphin donors in California’s Navy Marine Mammal Program to dolphins with poor gastrointestinal health before sequencing the gut microbiomes and authenticating signs of the re-growth and recuperation of dolphin gut flora. The team performed dolphin FMTs trans-rectally using eight healthy dolphin host donors with the transplants resulting in the full recoveries of all recipient dolphins with gastrointestinal disease and recuperation of the diversity of gut microbial communities even in those dolphins previously resistant to medication. The gut microbiomes of recipient dolphins post-transplant were found to resemble the healthy donor and successfully maintained positive gut levels even two years after the procedure. Linnehan’s team even secured a ‘dolphin bank’ of logged dolphin poop available for future emergency dolphin FMTs. Think of it as a dolphin pharmacy, if you will. Dr. Linnehan explains, “During the project, we also came up with an effective protocol for banking healthy donor dolphin feces for later use. This has proven beneficial so that when an FMT is needed we have a healthy dolphin stool bank to pull from”. The dolphin fecal microbiota transplant study also investigated procedural methods such as using fresh versus frozen dolphin feces, rectal transplants or oral supplements, and a single FMT or a series of transplants in order to create a solid methodology for future dolphin fecal microbiota transplants. Dolphin FMTs not only emphasize the benefit of dolphin stool but have also piloted an alternative treatment for cetaceans with gastrointestinal disease. Although primarily beneficial, veterinary medication has been found to destroy both ‘good and bad’ dolphin gut microbial flora preventing full recovery and regrowth. Dolphin FMTs avoid this pitfall and offer an encouraging new treatment plan. “This work is important to the veterinary community because it highlights a therapeutic option other than antibiotics to effectively treat gastrointestinal diseases in cetaceans, and describes a safe and effective protocol to alter the gut microbiome in animals with dysbiosis,” Dr Linnehan asserted. The next time you think of feces as ‘gross’; remember that dolphins are using their stool to fight climate change and maintain oceanic ecosystems, ‘feed’ and restore coral reefs, and heal the gut health of fellow cetaceans through trans-rectal transplants. The power of dolphin poop! Directories/Credits 1: “Get to Know Common Dolphins and the Dolphin Stampede”, Written by Unknown. Published on Unknown Date by Captain Dave’s Dolphin Safari https://www.dolphinsafari.com/common-dolphins-and-dolphin-stampede/ 2: “Common Dolphin”, Written by Unknown. Published on Unknown Date by Orange County Outdoors https://www.orangecountyoutdoors.com/wildlife/marine-mammals/common-dolphin 3: “California is a Dolphin Paradise”, Written by Erik Olsen. Published on February 13, 2023, by California Curated https://californiacurated.com/blog/california-is-a-dolphin-paradise/ 4: “Five Different Types of Dolphins in Dana Point”, Written by Unknown. Published on Unknown Date by Captain Dave’s Dolphin Safari https://www.dolphinsafari.com/five-different-types-of-dolphins-in-dana-point/ 5: The Dolphin Tap: Assessing the Ecosystem Role of Spinner Dolphins in Supplying Nutrients to Coral Reefs in Maui Nui, Hawai’i, Written by Unknown. Published on February 13, 2026, by Pacific Whale Foundation https://pacificwhale.org/the-dolphin-tap-assessing-the-ecosystem-role-of-spinner-dolphins-in-supplying-nutrients-to-coral-reefs-in-maui-nui-hawaii/ 6: “Nutrient-Rich Dolphin Poop Could Help Save Damaged Coral Reef”, Written by Nidhi Goyal. Published on July 12th, 2022 by Industry Tap into News https://www.industrytap.com/nutrient-rich-dolphin-poop-could-help-save-damaged-coral-reef/63155 7: “Why Cetaceans”, Written by Unknown. Published on Unknown Date by World Cetacean Alliance https://worldcetaceanalliance.org/who-we-are/why-cetaceans/ 8: “‘Ocean Gardeners’: How Whale Poop Helps Fight Climate Change”, Written by Asiye Latife Yilmaz. Published on June 5, 2026, by Anadolu Ajansı News https://www.aa.com.tr/en/environment/-ocean-gardeners-how-whale-poop-helps-fight-climate-change/3957355 9: “Artificial Whale Poo Could Help Restore Ocean Biodiversity”, Written by James Ashworth. Published on March 9, 2022, by United Kingdom Natural History Museum https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2022/march/artificial-whale-poo-could-help-restore-ocean-biodiversity.html 10: The Dolphin Tap: Assessing the Ecosystem Role of Spinner Dolphins in Supplying Nutrients to Coral Reefs in Maui Nui, Hawai’i, Written by Grace L, Olson, Shannon M. Barber-Meyer, Jens J. Currie. Published on January 14, 2026, by Frontiers in Mammal Science https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/mammal-science/articles/10.3389/fmamm.2025.1712553/full 11: “Dolphin Poop Helps Save Coral Reefs”, Written by Cathy Brown. Published on August 22, 2022, by Good Nature https://www.nathab.com/blog/dolphin-poop-helps-save-coral-reefs 12: “How Dolphin Poop Could Help Save Damaged Coral Reef”, Written by Talker News. Published in July 6, 2022 by Talker Newshttps://talker.news/2022/07/06/how-dolphin-poop-could-help-save-damaged-coral-reef/ 13: “Dolphin Poo Could Be Key Ingredient in Coral Reef Survival”, Written by Ethan Freedman. Published on July 7, 2022, by The Independent https://www.the-independent.com/climate-change/news/dolphin-poo-coral-reef-b2118147.html 14: “Deep-Sea Coral Habitat”, Written by Unknown. Published on Unknown Date by Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History https://ocean.si.edu/ecosystems/coral-reefs/deep-sea-coral-habitat 15: “Deep-Sea Corals”, Written by Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Published on an unknown date by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration https://farallones.noaa.gov/science/corals.html 16: “California's Rock Reefs”, Written by OC Habitats. Published on February 15, 2021, by OC Habitats https://www.ochabitats.org/post/california-s-rock-reefs 17: “Exploring the Cold-Water Corals of the California Coast”, Written by Robert Eagle. Published on Unknown Date 2025 by UCLA Institute of Environment and Sustainability https://www.ioes.ucla.edu/project/exploring-the-cold-water-corals-of-the-california-coast/ 18: “Exploring Corals of the Deep”, Written by Sheraz Sadiq. Published on March 9, 2016, by KQED National Public Radio News https://www.kqed.org/quest/37167/exploring-corals-of-the-deep 19: “Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Community Observatory at Sur Ridge”, Written by Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Published on Unknown Date by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration https://montereybay.noaa.gov/science/research/observatory.html 20: “Using Fecal Transplants to Treat Dolphins with Gastrointestinal Disease”, Written by Sho Kodera. Published on April 4, 2024, by Scripps Institution of Oceanography https://scripps.ucsd.edu/news/using-fecal-transplants-treat-dolphins-gastrointestinal-disease 21: “Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of Fecal Microbiota Transplantations in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) Using Metagenomic Sequencing”, Written by Barbara K Linnehan, Sho M Kodera, Sarah M Allard, Erin C Brodie, Celeste Allaband, Rob Knight, Holly L Lutz, Maureen C Carroll, Jennifer M Meegan, Eric D Jensen, Jack A Gilbert. Published on February 1, 2024, by National Library of Medicine, Oxford University Press https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10853691/ 22: “Researchers Carry Out First Peer-Reviewed Study of Fecal Microbiota Transplants in Dolphins”, Written by Linda Stewart. Published on Unknown Date March 2024, Updated May 2, 2024 by National Marine Mammal Foundation https://nmmf.org/researchers-carry-out-first-peer-reviewed-study-of-fecal-microbiota-transplants-in-dolphins/ 23: “Marine Mammal Program”, Written by Unknown. Published on Unknown Date by Naval Information Warfare Center https://www.niwcpacific.navy.mil/about/departments/intelligence-surveillance-and-reconnaissance/marine-mammal-program/ Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Three J’s Kitchen Presence News Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A photograph of a male Peacock Blenny taken in 2009. Credit to George Chernilevsky. Today’s article is going to dive into the fascinating lives of the Peacock Blenny of Trieste, Italy. Trieste is a port city located in Northern Italy along the Adriatic Sea. It has a fairly large population of 198,668 individuals. It is located near the Italian-Slovenian & Italian-Croatian borders. The city links these 3 countries, as well as the rest of the Mediterranean, making it a center of trade. Modernly, it is considered the Mediterranean endpoint of the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road, an international development initiative developed by the Chinese Government. Trieste is often colloquially referred to as the “City of Science”, given its heavy research presence. Across Europe, it has the highest number of researchers per capita, at an astounding 37.1 people per thousand individuals. In addition to its scientific prowess, it is also known for its contributions to the coffee industry, affectionately referred to by lovers of the drink as the “City of Coffee”. Annually, residents of Trieste consume twice the mean of the average Italian. The city is packed with historic cafes, coffee breweries, roasters, & important companies. Apart from its statuesque architecture, vibrant culinary scene, & domineering research industry, Trieste is known for its natural beauty. With wonders such as the Miramare Nature Reserve, Rosandra Valley Reserve, & Carsiana Botanical Garden, the city is home to thousands of fascinating creatures, both terrestrial & marine. One of the creatures that calls Trieste home is the Peacock Blenny. The Peacock Blenny is a species of fish known for its elongated appearance, & fleshy crest. They are native to the Mediterranean, as well as the North Atlantic, & occupy shallow waters between 0 & 10 meters. They may be seen along rocky shorelines, intertidal zones, harbours, & coastal man-made structures. Individuals are fiercely territorial, & protective over their homes as well as their young. In today’s article, we will discuss the discovery & life of the Peacock Blenny, the reproductive strategies of the Peacock Blenny, the distribution of the Peacock Blenny, & the scientific aspects of the Peacock Blenny. With that being said, let us delve into the fascinating world of this brilliant sea-creature! The Discovery & Life of the Peacock Blenny The Peacock Blenny was discovered in 1810 by Antoine Risso, a French naturalist & taxonomist from the city of Nice. Individuals measure 2.3 to 5.1 inches (6 to 13 centimeters) in length, & 7.12 to 27.63 grams in weight. Their lifespan is 2 to 5 years, with individuals living slightly longer in captivity. Unfortunately, very little information is available on the intelligence of the Peacock Blenny. Generally speaking, Blennies tend to be among the most intelligent fish, possessing some level of spatial memory, social awareness, recognition, & general smarts. Peacock Blennies are often mildly aggressive, & very territorial. Once they have found a crevice, rock, or other space they claim as home, they will fight with vitriolic aggression against any other creature who attempts to invade. In aquarium settings, they do not manage well with roommates of both their species & other animals, & prefer having their own space. Towards humans, they are usually skittish, with a tendency to retreat when humans approach. Individuals are poor swimmers who primarily inhabit the benthic zone, meaning the seafloor. It is important to understand that fish do not sleep in the same way humans or mammals do. Blennies will enter states of reduced activity as well as reduced metabolism during nights, but this is not comparable to the deep extended periods of rest that mammals will enter. While in their states of reduced activity, they will keep their brain partially active in order to be able to escape potential predators. Peacock Blennies will consume a variety of bottom-dwelling organisms such as algae, bivalves, sponges, crustaceans, sea snails, chitons, amphipods, isopods, insects, echinoderms, & fish eggs. Individuals are elongated, with a lighter brown base, larger brown stripes, bulky heads, & dotted white polka dots. Males tend to have bulkier heads, with brighter polka dots. During breeding season, males will grow fleshy protruding crests off the top of their heads to attract females. Thankfully, Peacock Blennies (Salaria pavo) are classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. Their population is presently stable. A photograph of a male Peacock Blenny with a fleshy crest extending from its head. Credit to Roberto Pillon. The Reproductive Strategies of the Peacock Blenny Peacock Blennies reproduce via sexual reproduction, & are unable to reproduce asexually. Their mating system can be described as polygynous, as males will breed with multiple females every season. Their breeding season can broadly be defined as March through September, peaking from May to July. Individuals reach sexual maturity at approximately 1 year old. Upon reaching sexual maturity, males will begin searching for females to mate with, & grow fleshy crests off the top of their foreheads. Males will attract females through a series of nods & undulations. After attracting a suitable female, the female will lay her unfertilized eggs inside a nest, typically on a rock or in a crevice, & the males will release their sperm on top of the eggs. Males will then guard the eggs from other females, preventing harm from coming their way. They will use their fins to flush oxygenated water over their eggs, & release an antibacterial mucus in order to defend against microbial infections. Alternatively, smaller males, known as sneaker males, will mimic females to sneak past more dominant males in order to fertilize eggs. After 6 to 15 days, the baby peacock blennies will hatch, ready to face the sea. Upon hatching, the fry will have no further parental involvement. The Distribution of the Peacock Blenny Peacock Blennies are distributed throughout the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Adriatic Sea, & Red Sea after colonizing it via the Suez Canal. Individuals are typically found in shallow sheltered waters that contain rocks or seaweed meadows, usually 0 to 6.56 feet (0 to 2 meters) in depth. They are known to inhabit both brackish, & saltwater, with the ability to tolerate extremes on both ends. Individuals are not known to be migratory. The Scientific Aspects of the Peacock Blenny In the wild, Peacock Blennies are known to carry the parasite Myxidium parvum, a myxosporean parasite. Myxosporea is a group of microscopic parasites belonging to the group Cnidaria, a group which includes jellyfish, sea anemones, & coral. Myxosporeans are known to affect both freshwater & saltwater species, typically attacking the internal organs. They require an intermediate host before they enter the Peacock Blenny. Myxidium parvum is primarily limited to the Black Sea population of the Peacock Blenny. It also affects other blenny species in the region, such as the Tentacled Blenny. It typically attacks the gall bladder of its hosts. Individuals have a single row of small razor-like teeth on their upper & lower jaws, along with larger curved canine-like teeth at the back of their mouths. These teeth are used for devouring small invertebrates, fish eggs, & algae. Their phylum is Chordata, meaning that they developed these 5 characteristics all species under the phylum of chordata develop 5 similar characteristics either in adulthood or as juveniles. The characteristics that they develop include a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal slits, & a post-anal tail. Their class is Actinopterygii, this means that they are ray-finned fish. This also means that their actinopterygian fin rays attach directly to the proximal or basal skeletal elements. This class comprises over 50% of living vertebrate species. Their order is Blenniformes. A universal trait of this order is that the tail fin is rounded, & the dorsal fin is continuous. Their family is Blenniidae, commonly known as Combtooth Blennies. Combtooth Blennies typically have blunt heads, large eyes, elongated bodies, & live in the benthic zone of the sea. Their genus is Salaria, & their scientific name is Salaria pavo. A photograph of a Peacock Blenny in a rocky reef. Credit to Roberto Pillon. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Peacock Blenny”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by ReefArchive. https://www.reefarchive.com/fish/blennies/peacock-blenny Citation No. 2: “Peacock Blenny”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Underwater Enterprises. https://divemalta.com/marine-life/bony-fish/peacock-blenny/ Citation No. 3: “Peacock Blenny”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Paul Richard Oceanographic Institute. https://www.institut-paul-ricard.org/en/especes_aquarium/peacock-blenny/ Citation No. 4: “Peacock Blenny”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Animalia. https://animalia.bio/peacock-blenny Citation No. 5: “Euro-Mediterranean Silk Road Passes Through Trieste & Istanbul”, Written by Paolo Deganutti, & Published on November 21st, 2025. Published by Plǔralia. https://pluralia.com/en/a/euro-mediterranean-silk-road-passes-through-trieste-and-istanbul/ Citation No. 6: “The Research Centers in Trieste”, Written by Unknown, & Published on August 18th, 2017. Published by the Embassy of Italy. https://ambriga.esteri.it/en/news/dall_ambasciata/2017/08/informazioni-sulla-realta-scientifica-2/ Citation No. 7: “Salaria pavo”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by FishBase. https://fishbase.se/summary/Salaria-pavo.html Citation No. 8: “Salaria pavo”, Written by Kasper Hareskov Tygesen, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by ReefApp. https://reefapp.net/en/encyclopedia/salaria-pavo Citation No. 9: “Peacock Blenny: Salaria pavo”, Written by Antonio Di Natale, Murat Bilecenoglu, Michel Bariche, Can Bizsel, Enric Massuti, Jeffrey Williams, & Matthew Craig, & Published in 2014. Published by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/185175/1776635 Citation No. 10: “Do Blenny Fish Sleep? Interesting Facts About Blenny Fish”, Written by Kai Brooks, & Published on November 28th, 2025. Published by Knolcrest Lodge. https://knolcrestlodge.com/do-blenny-fish-sleep-pk683/ Citation No. 11: “Ecological modulation of reproductive behaviour in the peacock blenny: a mini-review”, Written by J. L. Saraiva, D. Gonçalves, & R. F. Oliveira, & Published on May 15th, 2012. Published by Fish Physiology & Biochemistry. https://ise.usj.edu.mo/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Saraiva_et_al_2013.pdf Citation No. 12: “A male sexually dimorphic trait provides antimicrobials to eggs in blenny fish”, Written by Eva Giacomello, Daniela Marchini, & Maria B. Rasotto, & Published on May 26th, 2026. Published by Biology Letters. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1686180/ Citation No. 13: “Molecular and morphological description of Myxidium parvum (Cnidaria) from Salaria pavo (Blenniidae) in the Black Sea”, Written by C. T. Gürkanli, S. Okkay, Y. Çiftçi, & A. Özer, & Published on November 26th, 2021. Published by Parasitology International. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1383576921002385 Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Three J’s Kitchen Presence News Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A striking photograph of the beautiful blue Baltic Sea. Credit to Michael Held. Modern technology allows us to easily find information about the history of any region. We can visualize what it looked like thousands and even millions of years ago and how it changed over the decades to finally be what we know today. This knowledge is acquired by analyzing data from sediment samples taken from the ground. This was the method used to establish the history of the Baltic Sea. Even though this particular sea is young, being only about 8,000 years old, it still has its own history and unique characteristics, which will be discussed in this article. The Baltic Sea was first a region covered entirely by an ice sheet. 20,000 years ago the ice glaciers originating from Scandinavia started spreading east and south, deepening the region by dragging large rocks and smaller pieces of stone and clay. The ice slowly melted, filling the created basin with water and forming what is now known as the Baltic Ice Lake. With the ice melting, the basin continued to fill with water until it started to overflow, causing the excess freshwater to travel directly into Skagerrak (strait between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden). When the outflow finally stopped, seawater was able to reach the lake through the newly created mid-Swedish channel. That is when the salinity levels allowed the bivalve Yoldia to flourish, thus creating the name Yoldia Sea, lasting a short period of time. A photograph of Portlandia arctica, formerly known as Yoldia arctica. This mussel used to colonize the area which modernly occupies the Baltic Sea. Credit to Amgueddfa Cymru & the National Museum of Wales. The next step in its history was the Ancylus Lake period - a time when the freshwater basin covered an area larger than today’s Baltic Sea. This period was also relatively short, as about 8,000 years ago, seawater flowed into the lake, creating what we know today - the Baltic Sea. An illustration showcasing the extent of the Ancylus Lake, along with major cities in the region. Note that Stockholm, as well as Helsinki would be underwater. Credit to GEOMAR. So, what makes this particular sea unique? The basin itself is about 1600 km long, with an average depth of 55 metres, the deepest point reaching 459 metres. It is one of the largest brackish inland seas by area. This means that this sea’s water contains more salinity than that of freshwater, but less than that of seawater. This particular characteristic is one of the most important pillars of shaping its biodiversity. Unlike other seas, the Baltic Sea has an exceptionally low biodiversity. Low salinity is caused by many freshwater points of flow (rivers) and narrow connections to the salty ocean. This means that most marine species cannot survive because the water is too fresh, and most freshwater species cannot survive because it is too salty. Therefore, there are a limited number of adaptable species that can thrive in this basin. The relatively young age of this sea also means that species have not had enough time to fully adapt to these unique conditions. The Baltic Sea is shallow and holds a relatively small volume of water, causing it to be highly sensitive to temperature changes and pollution. Any pollutants and chemicals that enter the sea remain trapped inside for decades - the narrow connection to the open ocean means that water exchange is extremely slow, taking it roughly 40 years to flush out. When it comes to tides, they are usually less than 10 centimeters, which makes it difficult to wash away debris and mix nutrients, having to rely on wind-driven currents to move water. On top of that, the Baltic Sea contains some of the largest human-caused marine dead zones in the world. In these zones, benthic life suffocates and dies, leaving an underwater oxygen dead zone populated only by anaerobic bacteria. The Baltic Sea is one of the most unique seas. Its low biodiversity doesn’t make it interesting for many marine biologists, however, many who decide to appreciate its beauty find that it has much more to offer than it shows. From its history to the species living in it and to many historical wonders that hide beneath it, in this series we will slowly unravel its beauty, hoping to shed light on this undermined basin. Tales from the Baltic - a vow to the currents that carried my childhood. A photograph depicting the haunting beauty of the Baltic Sea. Credit to Public Domain. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “The Origin of the Baltic Sea”, Written by Robert Spielhagen, and Published at an Unknown Date. Credit to GEOMAR. https://www.geomar.de/en/discover/the-origin-of-the-baltic-sea Citation No. 2: “State and Evolution of the Baltic Sea (1952-2005)”, Written by Rainer Feistel, Günther Nausch, and Norbert Wasmund, and Published in 2008. Credit to John Wiley & Sons. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rainer-Feistel/publication/275645919_Feistel_2008_frontmatter/ Citation No. 3: “Treatise of Marine Ecology and Paleoecology - Chapter 24: Baltic Sea”, Written by Sven G. Segerstråle, and Published on December 1st, 1957. Credit to The Geological Society of America. https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/books/edited-volume/73/chapter-abstract/3787153/Chapter-24-Baltic-Sea?redirectedFrom=fulltext Citation No. 4: “Water in motion”, Written by Unknown, and Published at an Unknown Date. Published by MarineFinland. https://itameri.fi/en/nature-and-how-it-changes/characteristics-of-water/hydrology/. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Three J’s Kitchen Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Today’s chart is a primordial 169-year-old map of the South Atlantic Ocean, featuring both the coasts of South America & the coast of West Africa. The chart is fairly large, at 51 inches long by 38 inches wide. It is in beautiful condition for its age, apart from a small hole in one of its compass roses. Its blemishes & soiling are consistent with use at sea. In today’s article, we are going to examine this antique map, discuss it, & analyze it. With that being said, let’s delve into the visually magnificent, cool, & unforgiving waters of the South Atlantic Ocean! The Chart A 169-year-old antique nautical chart produced by James Imray & his son, James Frederick Imray. Credit to raremaps.com. This chart features most of South America, part of West Africa, the South Atlantic Ocean, & the Eastern Pacific Ocean, from the Equator to 65° South latitude. It is packed with information, & includes multiple archipelagos such as the Galapagos, South Shetland, South Orkney, Sandwich, & Falkland Islands. It is beautifully decorated, with intricate calligraphy all over. 10 compass roses are littered across the map, which would have been used by navigators to orient themselves as to what their position was. In the Atlantic, we can see “Reid's Shoal (1842)”, located near Lagoa dos Patos, Brazil, while in the Pacific we can see “Powsland Reef? (1853)”. Coral reefs, rocky reefs, & shoals pose many issues to passing ships, as they may cause hull damage to unsuspecting vessels which strike them. Hull damage can catastrophically alter the structural integrity of the ship, & may cause it to capsize & sink. As such, it is of critical importance to have these properly labelled. Weather conditions are featured prominently in the chart, with the infamous Drake Passage labelled with “Storms and almost constant rain prevail here”. Other areas, such as the South Sandwich Islands, are labelled with “High Land covered with snow”. South of 60° Latitude, reports of field ice from various years can be seen. Field ice is defined as an expanse of sea ice or lake ice on a body of water which is so large, that the other side may not be seen from the masthead of a ship. It is relatively flat, & according to the Manual of Ice, must be more than 6.3 miles (10 kilometers) across. This would have been extraordinarily useful to any sailor traversing icy Antarctic waters, as field ice could severely damage or even sink a vessel. Information about currents near Brazil & Cape Horn can be found on the left side of the map, while information about the Lagullas Current, South African Current, & Southern Connecting Current can be found on the right side. According to the chart, the Lagullas Current is set westward around the Cape of Good Hope, & varies in velocity. The South African Current is a strong broad extension of the Lagullas Current, running northwest. The Southern Connecting Current flows to the east between 30° & 40° South latitude. It is also broad, & quite strong. Illustrations of Tristan de Cunha, West Falkland, Gough Island, False Cape Horn & the Cape Horn can all be seen near the bottom. Each coastline is drawn with attention to detail. An Analysis of the Chart This chart was manufactured in 1857, by the Scottish pair of hydrographers James Imray & his son, James Frederick Imray. Imray Sr. began his business as a bookseller in 1818. He shared his office space with a nautical chart seller, Robert Blachford, & eventually went into business with his successor, Michael Blachford. He eventually bought Blachford out in 1846, & brought his son in as a partner in 1854. In 1899, the firm was sold to Norie & Wilson. Nowadays, the combined firms trade under the name Imray, Laurie, Norie, & Wilson, keeping the name alive over a century later. The map was created & published in London, as that is where the cartographic office of Imray was located. The chart is titled “General Chart of the South Atlantic or Ethiopic Ocean From The Equator to 65° South Latitude according to the latest Surveys & Observations”. Upon reviewing the concise details printed, publishing house, & era that it was manufactured in, this chart was likely manufactured using lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing in both color & grayscale until the early 1960s, when more efficient methods became available. Although it has existed since the mid-1790s, it took a long time to gain popularity in Europe due to technical difficulties. It only began gaining commercial popularity in the early 1820s. It is still used for certain kinds of printing today, such as fine art printing, however, digital printing is far more common. In the lithographic method, the artist will draw directly onto a printing surface, such as zinc, or copper, until they are satisfied with the drawing. After this, the surface will be covered with a chemical etch, which will bond it to the surface. With this process, the blank areas will attract moisture to the plate & repel the lithographic ink, while the areas that are drawn on will hold the ink. Water is then wiped onto the unpainted areas to help prevent the ink from deviating. After the image is inked, the paper is laid over it & covered with a tympan, & the tympan is pressed down. Finally, these materials pass through the scraper bar of the litho-press. Afterward, an exact copy of what was supposed to be printed is revealed. It is extremely useful for making high-resolution prints in high quantities. A sunlit photograph of Cape Horn, Tierra del Fuego, Chile. This area is prominently featured on today’s chart. Credit to Wikimedia Commons. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com. To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Presence News Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

An idyllic photograph of a sea arch in Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory. Credit to bThere Magazine. Today’s chart is an ancient 375-year-old map of the Caribbean, from Puerto Rico to Trinidad. The chart is moderately sized, at 20 inches long by 16 inches wide. It features the Caribbean Sea, & numerous Caribbean islands. It is in brilliant condition for its age, with few spots or signs of wear along the edges. In today’s article, we are going to examine this antique map, discuss it, & perform an analysis of it. With that being said, let’s delve into the idyllic, tropical waters of the Caribbean Sea! The Map A 375-year-old chart of the Caribbean Sea. Credit to cartographer & hydrographer Jan Janssonius. This chart focuses on the Caribbean Sea, featuring Puerto Rico, Anguilla, Saint Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, Antigua, Guadalupe, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenada, Trinidad, & numerous other small islands. It is richly decorated, with numerous illustrations of ships, an elaborate cartouche, & an illustration of a person along with the map scale in the corner. Each ship is unique, with varying sails, flags, & colours of wooden hulls. The Paria peninsula of Venezuela has numerous mountains drawn, along with a plethora of labelled coastal settlements. An Analysis of the Map This chart was produced in 1650 by cartographer Johannes Janssonius. Jan Jansson was an esteemed hydrographer & cartographer of the 17th century, born in 1588 in Arnhem, Gelderland, The Netherlands. During this era, the Dutch ruled the cartographic market. Born to a father who owned a publishing house, he was exposed to the art of cartography & publishing at a young age. In 1612, at the age of 24, he wed the daughter of Jodocus Hondius, entering the cartographically important Hondius family in the process. Upon marrying, he moved to Amsterdam. Janssonius published his first map in 1616, influenced heavily by cartographer Willem Blaeu. In the 1630’s, Jansson partnered with their brother-in-law Henricus Hondius, to produce the 11-volume Atlas Major. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1664, upon which his business was overtaken by his son-in-law Johannes Waesberger, & his other his son-in-law Elizée Weyerstraet. The chart is titled “Insula S. iuan De Puerto Rico Caribes uvel Canibasum Insulae”. Considering the age of the map, it was most likely manufactured using the engraving method. In this technique, there are 4 roles, the mapmaker, the engraver, the printer, & the colourist. The first step in this process is that the mapmaker will go out & make a hand-drawn map of the area where the map will encompass. Effectively, the mapmaker is the informant who makes the first copy. After this, the engraver will create a design of the map in reverse on a metal, usually copper, surface. Usually, there would only be 1-2 plates used, however, it differs depending on the size of the map. After the copper plate is made, the printer will heat the copper panel, & then proceed to lather it with ink. They will then wipe the copper panel down to the point where the ink is only on the grooves of the panel. Thereafter, the printer will press damp paper onto the ink, & hang it up to dry. To conclude, the colourist will touch up the map & decorate it by adding in details, such as shorelines & shoals. The result should be a detailed chart with colour, & depth, useful to any sailor of the era traversing the high seas. A photograph of Mayaro Beach, Trinidad. Mayaro Beach is a popular beach located in Southeastern Trinidad known for its stunning natural beauty. Credit to Paul Oreggio/Getty Images. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com. To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A photograph of the Space Needle as seen from downtown Seattle. This prominent building is featured on today’s nautical chart, & is easily visible from the coastline. Credit to Insight Pest Solutions. Today’s map is a relatively modern 58-year-old nautical chart of Seattle, Washington. The chart is fairly large, at 33.7 inches long by 46 inches wide. It features the entire Seattle Harbour as it was in 1966, along with depth measurements for the entire area. It is in amazing condition for its age, with minor signs of wear near the edges. In today’s article, we are going to examine this antique map, discuss it, & perform an analysis of it. With that being said, let’s delve into the cold, unforgiving waters of the Pacific Northwest! The Map A vintage nautical chart of Seattle Harbour, Washington. Credit to the United States Coast & Geodetic Survey. This chart focuses on the Seattle Harbour, as well as the surrounding Elliott Bay. It includes important information about water depth, local channels, marine life, lighthouses, buoys, coastal features, headlands, & roads in & around Seattle. It also includes important islands such as Harbor Island. There are approximately 4 compass roses littered on the map, useful to any sailor looking to traverse the harbour. Information about submerged rocks, ruins, or rocky coastlines would have aided mariners in avoiding collisions. Brief information about local marine life can be seen, with remarks about dolphins in the harbour, & seagrass on the seabed. At the bottom of the chart, a table with tidal information for Seattle can be seen. According to it, the average tide level is approximately 6.6 feet. Below it, information about abbreviations for different coastal features, buoys, & coastal light sources can be found. To the right of this table, another table containing information on water depth in the Duwamish Waterway can be found, based on surveys by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted in May of 1966. A publisher’s ink stamp can be seen at the very bottom of the chart in blue ink, indicating that the chart was published on June 10th, 1967. A second seller’s ink stamp can be seen to the right, illustrating that after being published, it found its way into the hands of Max Kuner Co. Nautical Instruments, Charts, & Technical books. Max Kuner Co. was originally started by mariner & watchmaker Max Kuner in 1897 in the Seattle Harbour. Upon his passing in the 1930’s, his wife, Anna Kuner, took over the business. After her passing in 1943, it was sold to Tom Williamson, a longtime employee of theirs. Eventually, a returning WW2 Navy Veteran named Leonard Schrock opened a shop in Downtown Seattle. When Tom passed away, Leonard purchased the store. For many years, both stores co-existed in waterfront Seattle, until both were consolidated into a single location. Modernly, the store is called Captain’s Nautical is Captain's Nautical Books & Charts, & continues to fulfill orders online. A photograph depicting Captain’s Nautical Books & Charts storefront prior to it being moved online. Credit to Captain’s Nautical Books & Charts. Additionally, the chart is coloured, with yellow being used to indicate land, light blue used to indicate coast, & white used to indicate water. An Analysis of the Map This chart was designed by the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey, one of the precursors to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. The United States Coastal & Geodetic Survey was the first scientific agency established by the United States Government, established in 1807. The Agency was unfortunately abolished in 1970, when it was merged with several other agencies to create the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. The chart was released in 1967. It is titled “Seattle Harbour: Elliott Bay & Duwamish Bay”. This chart was originally manufactured for civilian as well as military use. It is extremely accurate, with headlands, seabed composition, rocks, piers, & roads depicted accurately. Upon considering the incredible quality & detail of the chart, the publishing house it belongs to, & the time it was manufactured in, it was manufactured using lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing in both color & grayscale until the early 1960s, when more efficient methods became available. Although it has existed since the mid-1790s, it took a long time to gain popularity in Europe due to technical difficulties, & only began gaining commercial popularity in the early 1820s. It is still widely used for certain kinds of printing, such as fine art printing today, however, digital printing is far more common. Considering the time this chart was manufactured, it was likely manufactured using offset lithography. During the printing process, an inked metal, often aluminum or tin plate with an image or text is printed onto a rubber blanket before being transferred, or offset, to its final medium such as paper, wool, tin, cardboard, or leather. A photograph of a dolphin spotted in Puget Sound off the coast of Seattle, Washington. Today’s nautical chart indicates different areas of the harbour where dolphins have been historically spotted. Credit to Fox13 Seattle. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com. To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A photograph taken of the verdant lush Great Abaco Island, featured in the Bahamian extension of today’s map. Credit to seaglassfound.com. Today’s nautical chart is a timeworn 189-year-old map of the Eastern Coast of the United States, from Florida to Massachusetts. The chart is extraordinarily large, being 122 inches long & 29 inches wide. It includes a rare extension featuring a chart of the Bahamas. It is in fantastic condition for its time, & has minor soiling consistent with use during sailing. In today’s article, we are going to examine this antique map, discuss it, & perform an analysis of it. With that being said, let’s delve into the cool waters of the Atlantic! The Chart A magnificent antique Nautical Chart of the East Coast of the United States, as well as the Bahamas. It was first designed & published by Edmund M. Blunt in 1826, & later revised & republished in 1837. Credit to raremaps.com This chart focuses on the East Coast of the United States with an extension into the Bahamas. It includes numerous important harbours, estuaries, & capes, such as Charleston Harbour, Port Royal, St. Mary’s River, Cape Fear, Cape Lookout, Cape Hatteras, Winyah Bay, Lewiston Bay, Havana, & St. Augustine. It also includes several important islands, such as Cumberland Island & Amelia Island. There are approximately 16 compass roses strewn across the map. There are numerous descriptions for different locations such as “Dead shells”, “The river lies in deepest water”, “White sand with black and yellow specks and fine white shells”, “This cape appears like a round hill, “Sunken rock”, “Sand & shells”, & “The current here is directed by the wind”. Each of these remarks would have been extraordinarily useful to sailors of the era, & provide a unique insight into the natural landscape. The Bahamas extension is a rare addition, which extends from Florida to the Bahamas. The extension contains much information such as information about water depth, shore composition, local currents, & even lighthouses. A small lighthouse titled “Revolving light”, can be seen on the southern tip of Great Abaco Island. Another lighthouse can be seen near modern-day Nassau. Moving up the East Coast, a comment about the Highlands of Navesink can be seen. “There are two lighthouses on the Highlands of Navesink, the northern one showing a fixed, the southern one a revolving light.” Long Island can be prominently seen at the extreme right of the map. The chart is in amazing condition, with minor soiling consistent with being used on a ship. An Analysis of the Charts A photograph of the cartographer who designed the chart, Edmund March Blunt. Credit to the Blunt Family. This chart was designed, & created by Edmund March Blunt (1770 to 1862). The chart was originally illustrated in 1826, & had additions in 1837. Edmund March Blunt was an American cartographer, chartmaker, hydrographer, & bookseller, best known for his guide “The American Pilot”, which detailed every American port at the time of publishing in 1796. In response to this immense success, he later published 21 subsequent revisions, each with important updates. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential hydrographers of the 19th century in the United States. It is titled “To The Members Of The Nautical Institution And Ship-Masters' Society Of The City Of New York, This Chart, Extending From Lat. 40°15 N., Long. 72°15 W., to Lat. 22°35 N., Long. 80°25 W., Is Respectfully Dedicated / By Their Obedient Servant Edmund M. Blunt . . . 1826 . . . Additions to 1837”. Although originally dedicated to the Marine Society of New York, the title was later changed to reflect the founding of the Nautical Institution & Ship Master’s Society. Interestingly, this chart was published in a series by Blunt’s Publishing House from 1820 to 1827. It was originally published in 1826, & later revised in 1837. This chart was originally manufactured for civilian use. It is extremely accurate for the era, with scarcely a headland, island, reef, or rock being left off. Upon considering the incredible quality & detail of the chart, the publishing house it belongs to, & the time it was manufactured in, it was manufactured using lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing in both color & grayscale until the early 1960s, when more efficient methods became available. Although it has existed since the mid-1790s, it took a long time to gain popularity in Europe due to technical difficulties, & only began gaining commercial popularity in the early 1820s. It is still widely used for certain kinds of printing, such as fine art printing today, however, digital printing is far more common. In the lithographic method, the artist will draw directly onto a printing surface, such as zinc, or copper, until they are satisfied with the drawing. After this, the surface will be covered with a chemical etch, which will bond it to the surface. With this process, the blank areas will attract moisture to the plate & repel the lithographic ink, while the areas that are drawn on will hold the ink. Water is then wiped onto the unpainted areas to help prevent the ink from deviating. After the image is inked, the paper is laid over it & covered with a tympan, & the tympan is pressed down. Finally, these materials pass through the scraper bar of the litho-press. Afterward, an exact copy of what was supposed to be printed is revealed. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com. To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcasts Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Today’s nautical chart is an ancient 185-year-old map of Australia & Tasmania. Australia was first recorded in European records by Dutch Captain Willem Janszoon, who was sailing aboard the Duyfken. Complete maps of the continent did not exist until the 1810’s, though partial maps were available before then. The map is moderately sized at 31.5 inches wide & 22 inches long. Shockingly for its time, the chart contains many vibrant colours such as pink, blue, teal, yellow, & orange. It contains numerous place names of different coastal settlements & towns along Australia, as well as information about local reefs, islands, & shoals. In today’s article, we are going to examine this antique map, discuss it, & perform an analysis of it. With that being said, let’s delve into the warm tropical waters of Australia! The Chart A striking antique nautical chart of Australia & Tasmania designed & published by James Wyld in 1841. Credit to raremaps.com. This chart focuses on Australia & Tasmania. Tasmania was referred to as Van Diemen’s Land, from 1642 to 1856. It was named after Anthony van Diemen, who was governor-general of the Dutch East Indies from 1636 to 1645. Tasmania was officially discovered by Abel Tasman under the commission of Van Diemen, & named the island in his honour. The chart was produced in London, England. It showcases many islands, shoals, & even the shipwreck of the HMS Pandora in addition to the primary landmasses. The HMS Pandora was a Porcupine-class British Naval Vessel used for hunting down the mutineers aboard the HMS Bounty. The ship wrecked on the Great Barrier Reef in 1791, with 78 of the 134 stationed aboard returning home safely, & the rest suffering a watery doom. Knowing the locations of the local shoals & islands would have been significant to any sailor of the era not meeting the same fate as the crew aboard the HMS Pandora. In addition to information about local shoals, it also features information on the local topography with comments such as “Cliff goes from 40 feet to 60 feet high”, “Sandy hills sprinkled with vegetation”, & “Very low coast thinly wooded”. It showcases dozens of place names from all over Australia & Tasmania. In Australia, it includes the 18 counties in New South Wales, & the 14 counties near Perth, then referred to as Western Australia. South Australia is depicted in the chart, though Victoria appears as an unorganized territory called “Australia Felix”. Tasmania is depicted with 9 counties on its eastern side. The map uses information gathered from early expeditions into Australia’s interior, particularly in its depiction of what is now Victoria, then referred to as “Australia Felix”, & the southern areas of New South Wales. Some of the results hail from the early expeditions of Sir Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, a Scottish surveyor & explorer known for his exploration of Australia. The chart is in fantastic condition for its time, with no creases, burns, yellowing, or brown spots. An Analysis of the Chart This chart was designed & produced by James Wyld the Elder, a British Geographer & Cartographer. Born in 1790, Wyld Sr. began his career as a mapmaker under William Faden. When Faden retired, Wyld Sr. took over, acquiring many plates in the process. He often signed his work “Successor to Faden”, which can be used when attempting to distinguish his maps from his sons. He was one of the most prolific mapmakers of the era, & was named geographer to King George IV, William IV, & HRH the Duke of York. He was one of the founding members of the Royal Geographical Society in 1830, the same year his son took over his publishing house. Unfortunately, James Wyld the Elder passed away at the age of 46 on October 14th, 1836, as a result of overwork. His son, also named James Wyld, took up the business following his passing, & would go on to be Geographer to Queen Victoria, design a globe attraction 19 meters in diameter which was placed in Leicester Square, & have a successful career in Parliament. Interestingly, this chart was published as part of a series of maps of Australia. This series, published by Wyld’s Publishing House, began in 1833, & gradually showcased more information as more expeditions were launched into the interior & along the coastline. It is of great historical importance, & certainly played a role in the rapid development of Australia. This chart was manufactured primarily for civilian use. What it does depict is fairly accurate, though the majority of the Australian interior is left blank. Upon reviewing the quality, the publishing house, & time that the map was manufactured in, this chart was most likely manufactured using lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing in both color & grayscale until the early 1960s, when more efficient methods became available. Although it has existed since the mid-1790s, it took a long time to gain popularity in Europe due to technical difficulties, & only began gaining commercial popularity in the early 1820s. It is still widely used for certain kinds of printing, such as fine art printing today; however, digital printing is far more common. In the lithographic method, the artist will draw directly onto a printing surface, such as zinc or copper, until they are satisfied with the drawing. After this, the surface will be covered with a chemical etch, which will bond it to the surface. With this process, the blank areas will attract moisture to the plate & repel the lithographic ink, while the areas that are drawn on will hold the ink. Water is then wiped onto the unpainted areas to help prevent the ink from deviating. After the image is inked, the paper is laid over it & covered with a tympan, & the tympan is pressed down. Finally, these materials pass through the scraper bar of the litho-press. Afterward, an exact copy of what was supposed to be printed is revealed. It is extremely useful for making high-resolution prints in high quantities. A modern photograph of Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. This photograph depicts Battery Point, Sandy Bay, the city of Hobart, & kunanyi / Mount Wellington. Credit to Loic Le Guilly. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com. To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Today’s nautical chart is an ancient 278-year-old map of South Asia, & the Indo-Pacific. Until the early 1500s, maps & information about South Asia were not widely available across Europe. As the ability to mass-produce maps grew across Europe, information from all corners of the world began to reach the continent. The map is moderately sized at 34.5 inches wide, & 20.5 inches long. Uncharacteristically for the time, the chart is brightly coloured with greens, reds, yellows, & teals used to indicate different regions. In addition to being brightly coloured, an elaborate cartouche with designs of cannons, drums, spears, swords, anchors, & flags can be seen in the lower left corner. In today’s article, we are going to examine this antique map, discuss it, & perform an analysis of it. With that being said, let’s delve into the tropical waters of South Asia! The Chart A magnificent nautical chart of South Asia produced by Homann Heirs in 1748. Credit to raremaps.com. This chart is focused on the Indo-Pacific, & features modern-day Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, India, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, South China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, & the Philippines. Sri Lanka is referred to as “Ceilan”, as it was referred to as Ceylon until 1972. The entire chart is in German, as it was produced in Nuremberg, Germany. Between the 15th, & 18th centuries, Nuremberg was one of the scientific, & cartographic capitals of the world, with many charts produced in the city being used in other areas of Europe. The chart showcases hundreds, possibly even thousands of place names all over South Asia. From India, to Timor Leste, hundreds of coastal & inland cities are featured on the map. Additionally, the Tropic of Cancer is featured, labelled “Tropicus Cancri”. Apart from a few small brown spots around the sides, the chart is in magnificent condition for the time. An Analysis of the Chart This chart was manufactured in 1748 in Nuremberg, Germany, by Homann Heirs. Homann Heirs was a cartographic house that operated from 1702 to 1848 in Germany. It was founded by Johann Baptist Homann in 1702, before being passed along to his son Johann Christoph upon his death in 1724. Christoph suffered an untimely death in 1730 at the age of 27, & the firm was inherited by Johann Michael Franz, & Johann Georg Ebersberger. This led to the name of the house being changed from “Homann Erben”, to “Homann Heirs”. It was known by a variety of names including but not limited to “Homanniani Heredes”, “Heritiers de Homann”, “Lat Homannianos Herod”, & “Homannschen Erben”. These names were primarily used for commercial publication in foreign countries. The firm operated until the death of its final owner, Christoph Franz Fembo in 1848. This chart was titled “Carte Des Indes Orientales dessinee suivant les Observations les plus recentes dont le principal est tiree des Cartes hydrographiques de Mr. D'Apres de Mannevillette”, which roughly translates to “Map of the East Indies drawn up according to the most recent observations, the main source of which is Mr. D'Apres de Mannevillette's hydrographic charts.” The chart was most likely manufactured for civilian purposes, rather than for military use. Considering the age of the map, it was most likely manufactured using the engraving method. In this technique, there are 4 roles, the mapmaker, the engraver, the printer, & the colourist. The first step in this process is that the mapmaker will go out & make a hand-drawn map of the area where the map will encompass. Effectively, the mapmaker is the informant who makes the first copy. After this, the engraver will create a design of the map in reverse on a metal, usually copper, surface. Usually, there would only be 1-2 plates used, however, it differs depending on the size of the map. After the copper plate is made, the printer will heat the copper panel, & then proceed to lather it with ink. They will then wipe the copper panel down to the point where the ink is only on the grooves of the panel. Thereafter, the printer will press damp paper onto the ink, & hang it up to dry. To conclude, the colourist will touch up the map & decorate it by adding in details, such as shorelines, docks, piers, rocks, & shoals. The result should be a detailed chart with colour, & depth, useful to any sailor of the era traversing the dangerous ocean. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com. To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

One of the earliest photographs of the Pacific Ocean was taken in 1909. This photograph was taken along the rocky coastline of Monterey, California—Credit to Revive Salvage. Today’s nautical chart is an ancient, 354-year-old map of the Pacific Ocean, by the English. This map is of incredible historical importance, as it is the first map of the Pacific Ocean created by the English. The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on planet Earth, & was unknown to many Europeans until Vasco de Núñez Balboa discovered the Isthmus of Panama in 1513, & consequently, the Pacific Ocean. It was not understood in its full vastness, until Ferdinand Magellan & his men crossed the Pacific in 1521. The map is fairly small, at 21 inches long by 17 inches wide. It does appear to some to have mild flaws, including small staining & toning in the center. Uncommonly for the time, the map has a variety of vivid colours. Along the shoreline, a bright yellow colour to differentiate between the ocean & the land, a blue colour can be seen along the coast, a purple can be seen on a figureheads robe in the upper right corner, a red can be seen on a figureheads hat, an orange can be seen outlining the title, & greens can be seen in various places throughout the chart. In this article, we are going to discuss this primeval map, & perform an analysis of it. With that being said, let us delve into this archaic nautical chart! The Chart As discussed in the introduction, this chart is focused on the Pacific Ocean, & showcases parts of Western South America, Western North America, Japan, New Zealand, & Tasmania, also known as Van Diemen’s Land. The Pacific Ocean is referred to as “Mare Pacificum”, which means “peaceful sea”, in Latin, on the chart. The chart showcases dozens of place names, from Point Conception, California, to Sand Hills, New Zealand. It refers to New Zealand as States Island, & remarks on its then recent discovery date of 1642. One interesting thing that the chart showcases is the now disproven “Island California”, theory. For hundreds of years from the 1500’s, to the 1700’s, California was shown as an island, unattached from North America. This began with a map by Diego Gutiérrez published in 1562, & continued until 1747 when King Ferdinand VII of Spain issued a decree stating California was attached to North America. Apart from minor marks near the center, the chart is in stunning condition for its age. An Analysis of the Chart This chart was manufactured in 1627 by English Cartographer & Hydrographer John Seller. He was one of the most influential & illustrious cartographers of his time, & was well known for his oceanic works. He was born in London in 1632 to a family of cordwainers, which is a kind of shoemaker. Upon coming of age, he apprenticed with Edward Lowe, before leaving in 1654, & joining the Clockmaker’s Company. Although he began as a compass, & clock maker, & expanded his skillset to include cartography, as well as hydrography. His career was abruptly interrupted when he was accused of being a conspirator in a High Treason plot led by nobleman Thomas Tonge. Whether he repeated rumours, was involved with the wrong people, or was completely unaware is unclear. What is clear however, is that he was convicted of treason, & held in Newgate Prison. While other conspirators were executed due to admission of guilt, he held his innocence steadfast, & through persistence, managed to convince the government to release him. Upon his release, he went on to become one of the most influential hydrographers in England, even being named Hydrographer to the King. In addition to this, his 2 sons, John & Jeremiah Seller, would go on to pursue cartography, following in their father’s footsteps. This chart was likely manufactured for civilian merchant purposes, particularly merchants looking to commercialize the newly discovered Pacific. Considering the age of the map, it was most likely manufactured using the engraving method. In this technique, there are 4 roles, the mapmaker, the engraver, the printer, & the colourist. The first step in this process is that the mapmaker will go out & make a hand-drawn map of the area where the map will encompass. Effectively, the mapmaker is the informant who makes the first copy. After this, the engraver will create a design of the map in reverse on a metal, usually copper, surface. Usually, there would only be 1-2 plates used, however, it differs depending on the size of the map. After the copper plate is made, the printer will heat the copper panel, & then proceed to lather it with ink. They will then wipe the copper panel down to the point where the ink is only on the grooves of the panel. Thereafter, the printer will press damp paper onto the ink, & hang it up to dry. To conclude, the colourist will touch up the map & decorate it by adding in details, such as shorelines & shoals. The result should be a detailed chart with colour, & depth, useful to any sailor of the era traversing the high seas. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com. To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Today’s nautical chart is a 166-year-old nautical map of the Florida Keys, from Ramrod Key to Boca Grande Key! The Florida Keys are a magnificent set of islands off the coast of the Florida Panhandle in the United States. They are known for their distinctive wildlife, relaxing resorts, & beautiful beaches. They are located in the Gulf of Mexico, from The chart depicts the lower portion of the Florida Keys, known as the Southern Keys. The chart is in English, & contains a tremendous amount of information about seafloor depth, seafloor composition, lighthouses, information about when data was taken, & crash sites of unlucky ships. It showcases the names of various islands, including charming, idyllic destinations such as Summerland Key, & Key West. It is of fair size, being 31 inches wide, & 22.5 inches long. The chart is cream coloured, with islands being covered yellow to differentiate from the sea, & details being outlined in black. For the time, the depiction of the islands were fairly accurate, making them an incredibly useful resource to any sailor of the era who passed through the area often. In today’s article, we shall discuss this intriguing nautical chart, perform an analysis of it. With that being said, let us delve into the warm, erratic waters of the Florida Keys! A beautiful aerial photograph of Ramrod Key, the island at the beginning of the map in the lower Florida Keys. This was taken on October 7th, 1987. Credit to the Federal Government of the United States of America. The Chart A gorgeous antique Nautical Chart designed by the United States Office in Coast Survey. Courtesy of Rare Maps. In the introduction, we discussed the subject of the map, an island chain known as the Florida Keys. The chart includes a variety of island names, from Boca Grande to Shark Key. The map is relatively undamaged, with the main visible flaws being yellowed marks running vertically & horizontally. As can be visualized by the numbers visible in the ocean, the chart also includes a vast amount of bathymetric data, meaning data about the sea floor. In addition to including information about depth, it also includes information about composition. A table at the bottom of the map explains that the chart has markers for different materials that the seafloor is composed of, including mud, sand, shells, coral, stones, rock, & marl. To the right on the table, we can also see that the chart gives information on the hardness of the sea floor, going from broken to rocky. This information would have been particularly useful to ships looking to anchor in the area, as composition of the sea floor affects what kind of anchor will be used. Also at the bottom, is a list of local lighthouses, as well as tidal information. An Analysis of the Chart This chart was designed & manufactured in 1859, by the United States Coastal Survey. The United States Coastal Survey was founded in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson. During the War of 1812, many disagreements ensued over whether or not the office should be civilian, or military controlled. This eventually led to the agency being re-founded in 1832 by Rudolph Hassled as a civilian agency, although they still collaborated closely with the military, working closely with the army & navy for hydrographic as well as topographic work. Unfortunately, the agency was disrupted by the civil war, during which Alexander Dallas Bache, the grandson of Ben Franklin. Later, post-civil war, after the country began returning to a state of normalcy, the party began employing more scientists, & naturalists. The agency also had an active role in the second world war, manufacturing over 100 million maps for the allies. In 1970, the agency was merged with several other governmental institutions to form the modern National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Considering the history of the United States Coastal Survey, this chart was likely manufactured for both military & civilian use. Upon reviewing the quality, & time that the map was manufactured in, the chart was most likely manufactured using lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing in both color & grayscale until the early 1960s, when more efficient methods became available. Although it has existed since the mid-1790s, it took a long time to gain popularity in Europe due to technical difficulties, & only began gaining commercial popularity in the early 1820s. It is still widely used for certain kinds of printing, such as fine art printing today, however, digital printing is far more common. In the lithographic method, the artist will draw directly onto a printing surface, such as zinc, or copper, until they are satisfied with the drawing. After this, the surface will be covered with a chemical etch, which will bond it to the surface. With this process, the blank areas will attract moisture to the plate & repel the lithographic ink, while the areas that are drawn on will hold the ink. Water is then wiped onto the unpainted areas to help prevent the ink from deviating. After the image is inked, the paper is laid over it & covered with a tympan, & the tympan is pressed down. Finally, these materials pass through the scraper bar of the litho-press. Afterward, an exact copy of what was supposed to be printed is revealed. It is extremely useful for making high-resolution prints in high quantities. A serene photograph of Boca Grande, Florida. This is the furthest island away from the mainland depicted in the chart. Credit to photographer Rob Wiltse. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com. To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A stunning photograph of the Jurassic Coast along Southern England. England is one of the primary subjects of today’s nautical chart. Credit to Yohantha Gunawarma. Today’s antique nautical chart is a 168-year-old chart of the British Isles! The chart depicts the entirety of the British Isles, Ireland, & the tides around said areas. The British Isles are the islands the administrative region of the Isle of Man, & the United Kingdom. The chart showcases the tides of Northwestern France, Norway, Northwestern Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, the United Kingdom, & the Isle of Man. It also depicts the Isles of Skye, Mull, Lewis, & Grimsay, which are a part of the Inner & Outer Hebrides. This tidal information is meant to be during the new & full moon, meaning these tides are spring tides. The map is in English, & it contains an immense amount of information about tidal, & depth information. In addition to this, it lists the names of numerous coastal towns, as well as various major cities, including Londonderry, Perth, & Edinburgh. This would have been valuable to any sailor of the era attempting to traverse the British Isles, especially one attempting to visit one of the non-major cities. The chart is fairly sized, at 23 inches wide & 19 inches long. It does contain some colour, with outlines of green, magenta, & yellow. The majority of the chart is some variation of grey, with lighter tones indicating lower tides & land. In today’s article, we shall discuss the map itself, & perform an analysis of it! With that being said, let us delve into the cool, unforgiving waters of the British Isles! The Chart An intriguing map of the British Isles, Northwestern France, & Southern Norway. Credit to hydrographers W. & A. K. Johnson. As discussed in the introduction, this map depicts the British Isles, the Hebrides, Northwestern France, Northwestern Germany, the Netherlands, & Southern Norway. It includes numerous town names along Great Britain, & Ireland, from Wickford to Dunbar. The chart is free of scratches or tears, with it being in pristine conditions apart from some minor spots & yellowing. The chart has small amounts of colour, particularly magenta, green, & yellow, outlining the shorelines of Norway, Northwestern France, & Great Britain. Apart from that, it is various shades of grey, with lighter shades indicating shallower depths. The chart contains a variety of bathymetric information, meaning information about the sea floor, particularly its depth. As was standard at the time, the information is in fathoms, which is an old nautical measurement (1 fathom = 6 feet). The chart is in pristine condition, with no rips, tears, or creases, although it does have some small dark spots. An Analysis of the Chart This chart was constructed by W. & A. K. Johnston under the direction of J. Scott Russell. It was published in 1857, as No. 4 in their hydrography collection, under the title “Tidal Chart of the British Seas: Showing the Progress of the Wave of High Water, the Hour of High Water in Greenwich Time at New and Full Moon; and the Depth of the Sea”. William & Alexander Keith Johnston were a pair of brothers who were Scottish cartographers, hydrographers, & geographers. Together, they started their own cartography & engraving business in 1826, with the motto “Ready, Aye, Ready!”. Their offices were located at 4 St. Andrews Square in Edinburgh, where this chart was most likely manufactured. As mentioned in the introduction, it was constructed under the guidance of J. Scott Russell, a prominent oceanographer of the time. He partnered with the brothers Johnston, & assisted in gathering data for the chart. The chart fulfilled the massive task of giving sailors, merchants, biologists, & similar professionals of the time a grasp of what spring tides are, how they differ from regular tides, how they differ from neap tides, & what this all translates to practically. As far as records indicate, this chart was created for civilian use, for those who were navigating the British Seas. Considering the quality of the chart, & the time that it was manufactured in, it was most likely manufactured using Lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing in both color & grayscale until the early 1960s, when more efficient methods became available. Although it has existed since the mid-1790s, it took a long time to gain popularity in Europe due to technical difficulties, & only began gaining commercial popularity in the early 1820s. It is still widely used for certain kinds of printing, such as fine art printing today, however, digital printing is far more common. In the lithographic method, the artist will draw directly onto a printing surface, such as zinc, or copper, until they are satisfied with the drawing. After this, the surface will be covered with a chemical etch, which will bond it to the surface. With this process, the blank areas will attract moisture to the plate & repel the lithographic ink, while the areas that are drawn on will hold the ink. Water is then wiped onto the unpainted areas to help prevent the ink from deviating. After the image is inked, a paper is laid over it & covered with a tympan, & the tympan is pressed down. Finally, these materials pass through the scraper bar of the litho-press. Afterward, an exact copy of what was supposed to be printed is revealed. It is still useful for making high-resolution prints in high quantities, & is used in fine-art prints to this day. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com. To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Today’s vintage nautical chart is a 51-year-old chart of Santa Monica Bay, California, USA! This chart depicts the entirety of Santa Monica Bay, a well-known bay immediately west of Los Angeles known for its vibrant marine scenes, natural beauty, & economic importance. It showcases the developments around the bay as well, including Los Angeles International Airport, the Pacific Palisades, Palos Verdes, & El Segundo. However, these various developments have all proliferated since the chart’s publication, & in the case of the Pacific Palisades, have been impacted by horrific wildfires. The map is in English, although the script’s letters are thin in some places making it mildly difficult to understand. It contains a tremendous amount of information on different marine depths, coves, inlets, & harbours along the bay, making it an indelible resource for any sailor of the era. It also contains a magnetic compass rose, which would have been extremely useful for understanding the orientation of different features, the directions of different locations relative to one another, & generally navigation. The chart is also rather large at 27 inches wide by 33.5 inches long. Its condition is superb, with colours being clear as well as bright, no rips or tears, little yellowing, no folds or creases, & no cracks. In today’s article, we shall discuss the map itself, & perform an analysis of it! With that being said, let us delve into the mild waters of Santa Monica Bay! The Map A gorgeous colour print chart of Santa Monica Bay by the United States Department of Commerce’s National Ocean Survey. Printed in 1974. As mentioned previously, the subject of this map is Santa Monica Bay. Santa Monica Bay is a very prominent bay, located immediately west of Los Angeles. It has numerous prominent cities along its shores, including El Segundo, Pacific Palisades, Playa Del Rey, Malibu, & its namesake Santa Monica. The area is a highly economically prosperous area for the county of Los Angeles, & California as a whole. It is also rather culturally important, as it is closely associated with the local film, tourism, & fishing industries. The bay itself is approximately 385 square miles, & has roughly 55 miles of pristine coastline. The chart has a trichromatic colour scheme, sticking to yellow for land, light blue for the sea, & purple for details such as the compass rose in the center. The map has a variety of bathymetric information, with information about sea floor depth, in fathoms (1 fathom = 6 feet), pipelines, & information about coastal developments. This would have made it highly useful to any sailor who frequented the area. Although the information about coastal developments is long outdated, it was useful for its time. Small markings such as, “wreck”, “anchorage area”, & “fish haven”, are present on the chart. In this context, a fish haven is an area with rocks, concrete, or some other hard material that attracts fish, & sessile organisms such as bivalves. This likely would have been used by fishermen who purchased the map & wished to find plentiful areas. As mentioned prior, the chart is in lovely condition, with no visible rips, tears, creases, or folds. An Analysis of the Chart This chart was designed & manufactured in 1974 by the United States Department of Commerce’s National Ocean Survey. The National Ocean Survey was created by the Department of Commerce to enhance, preserve, & better the marine ecosystems, & oceanic environment surrounding the US. Eventually, it was renamed to the National Ocean Service, & today has over 1,700 scientists on payroll. The agency is headquartered in Silver Spring Maryland, which is most likely where the map was manufactured. The map was made for civilian purposes, for sailors, fishermen, & merchants alike, who frequent the bay. Considering the quality of the chart, it was most likely manufactured using Lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing in both color & grayscale until the early 1960s, when more efficient methods became available. Although it has existed since the mid-1790s, it took a long time to gain popularity in Europe due to technical difficulties, & only began gaining commercial popularity in the early 1820s. It is still widely used for certain kinds of printing, such as fine art printing today, however, digital printing is far more common. In the lithographic method, the artist will draw directly onto a printing surface, such as zinc, or copper, until they are satisfied with the drawing. After this, the surface will be covered with a chemical etch, which will bond it to the surface. With this process, the blank areas will attract moisture to the plate & repel the lithographic ink, while the areas that are drawn on will hold the ink. Water is then wiped onto the unpainted areas to help prevent the ink from deviating. After the image is inked, the paper is laid over it & covered with a tympan, & the tympan is pressed down. Finally, these materials pass through the scraper bar of the litho-press. Afterward, an exact copy of what was supposed to be printed is revealed. It is extremely useful for making high-resolution prints in high quantities. A marvellous photograph of Santa Monica Bay. Credit to photographer John Moeschler. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com. To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Tides of Tomorrow Cash Daniels The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Today’s antique nautical chart in our Ode to Oceanography series is an intriguing, 198-year-old nautical chart of Copenhagen, Denmark! This chart showcases the “Kattegat”, which is a sea passage between the North Sea & Baltic Sea, between Denmark & Sweden. This map depicts the entirety of the passage, along with parts of northeastern Denmark, & Southwestern Sweden. The map is mostly in Danish, making it difficult to understand for many primary English speakers, however, the information is still mostly intelligible. The chart contains a treasure trove of trade routes, islands, communities, sounding depths, lighthouses, & similar information, making it extremely useful to any sailor of the era attempting to cross the Kattegat. The chart is also rather large at 22 inches wide by 35.4 inches long. It is in fantastic condition as well, with little to no yellowing, marks, fold-lines, rips, or tears, making the image clear. In today’s article, we shall discuss the map itself, & perform an analysis of it! With that being said, let us delve into the icy waters of Denmark! The Chart A magnificent 198-year-old map of the Kattegat between Denmark & Sweden, connecting the North & Baltic Seas. Credit to the Danish Royal Navy. As mentioned in the introduction, the subject of this map is the Kattegat, which translates literally as “Cat’s Gate”, for its rough waters, islands, narrowness, & rocky outcroppings. The area is a very economically, & politically important body of water connecting the North & Baltic Seas. At the time, it was also a massive source of income for the Danish Government, as it would tax any vessels sailing through. The Kattegat enables trade between the two regions, & as such, it was essential to have proper navigation when sailing through it. The chart is uncoloured, maintaining a consistent cream colour throughout, not changing to differentiate land & sea. The chart includes a decent amount of bathymetric information, meaning information about the seafloor, as sounding depths can be seen displayed in some of the oceanic areas. In addition to this, it includes an incredible amount of town names, settlement names, lighthouses, & islands, useful to any sailor or merchant looking to transport goods or passengers between the two nations. As mentioned in the introduction, the chart is in stunning condition considering its age. It has no yellowing, a few completely repaired rips not impacting the quality of information, no fold lines, or anything of the type. An Analysis of the Chart This chart was designed & manufactured in 1827 by the Royal Danish Nautical Chart Archive. The Royal Danish Nautical Chart Archive was created by the Danish Government in 1784 to provide accurate nautical information to the Royal Danish Navy, civilian sailors, & merchants passing through Danish waters. In the top right corner, we see a gorgeous design called a “Cartouche”, around the title of the map, “Kaart over Kattegattet”. This cartouche contains a mermaid playing the lyre, a merman holding a trident & raising his hand, along with 2 goddesses holding a spyglass along an oar, the bows of ships. Above the cartouche is the seal of King Frederick VI of Denmark, Former King of Norway. Immediately below that, we see the crest of the Royal Danish Navy, which has the initials of the Royal Danish Nautical Chart Archives, along with the date that the map was manufactured. Considering the time that the chart was made in, the late 1820s, we believe that this chart was manufactured through lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing in both color & grayscale until the early 1960s, when more efficient methods became available. Although it has existed since the mid-1790s, it took a long time to gain popularity in Europe due to technical difficulties, & only began gaining commercial popularity in the early 1820s. It is still widely used for certain kinds of printing, such as fine art printing today, however, digital printing is far more common. In the lithographic method, the artist will draw directly onto a printing surface, such as zinc, or copper, until they are satisfied with the drawing. After this, the surface will be covered with a chemical etch, which will bond it to the surface. With this process, the blank areas will attract moisture to the plate & repel the lithographic ink, while the areas that are drawn on will hold the ink. Water is then wiped onto the unpainted areas to help prevent the ink from deviating. After the image is inked, the paper is laid over it & covered with a tympan, & the tympan is pressed down. Finally, these materials pass through the scraper bar of the litho-press. Afterward, an exact copy of what was supposed to be printed is revealed. It is extremely useful for making high-resolution prints in high quantities. A photograph of the Kattegat, depicted in its full glory. Credit to the shop Vikings & Valhalla. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com. To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa