Cast your attention on the history of Cape Ann, or for that matter any topic involving the North Atlantic and a common subject will surface time after time. From the Vikings to World War
II, from colonial commerce to frozen food, nearly every chapter of our past has a consistent, albeit fishy, supporting character – the cod. Caught from the waters off Massachusetts, cod helped sustain early exploration, colonization, and the industrial revolution. Local settlers were nourished on
the fish, and economies developed around its trade with Europe and theCaribbean. So significant was this scaly savior, a four-foot, eleven-inch wooden Sacred Cod hangs in the StateHouse in homage to whatmany of our ancestors owed their survival and success.

The extraordinary history of this essential fish was chronicled in 1997 by author Mark Kurlansky in
his book, Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World. Like a long-line fisherman, Kurlansky strings together amultitude of stories in one catch.Not only does he captivate with historical accuracy, he entertains with humor and gastronomic detail. “Humor is a part of me, and a part of everything I do,” Kurlansky assures.

But, as amusing as some of the passages are, the book ultimately delivers a sober message about man’s influence on the balance of nature. Today, the fishery – and fishing as a way of life – is in danger of extinction. Gone are the times of plenty when cod were hauled from the sea in buckets. The headline of the day is scarcity. “When I write a book, I want to use a great story tomake an important message. I want people to be aware of the problem,” Kurlansky explains. “Inmost environmental issues, there arenot a lot of bad guys, just a very complex problem.”With cod, there is a dire need
to bolster the fishstocks, and a conflicting but equally compelling urgency to support fishermenand
the culture of commercial fishing.

Kurlansky has genuine concern and respect for fishermen and their families. As a young
man, he worked a deep-ocean lobster boat out of Fishers Island,NewYork. On an open boat with no radio, he hauled traps from depths of 200 feet. The job’s physical demands were tempered by the camaraderie among crewmates, the newness of each day, and the openness of the ocean.
“I’ve always loved the ocean and love being at sea,” he says. “Daybreak at sea is one of
the most beautiful things. Watching the colors change on the sea and the sky – when you come back, you feel bad for the people who were stuck on shore.”

FOR THE LOVE OF GLOUCESTER
Growing up with family in Boston, Kurlansky was no stranger to the north shore.
Now he returns to Gloucester every summer with his own family. “I have a Gloucester point of view,” he says. In The Last Fish Tale, published in 2008, Kurlansky recountsGloucester’s unique history and highlights the rare qualities of its inhabitants. The book grew out of dozens of conversations with Gloucester residents and a thorough review of the city’s archives. He calls Gloucester America’s “most original town,” having developed economically, socially, politically, and artistically around
the oldest fishing port in the country. “The great thing about Gloucester is that it has all kinds of people – a tremendous range of people,” he remarks, adding with good nature “and things to argue about that you wouldn’t even think of.”

Multilayered and engaging, the book is eloquently written and, like Cod, contains another
crucial message. Gloucester is struggling for survival; the city’s lifeblood for centuries –
commercial fishing – is disappearing. Ocean life is threatened by overfishing, climate change, and pollution. If the situation isn’t reversed, Kurlansky foresees what could Without cod, repercussions will ripple across all aspects of society. Fishermen will stay home. Demand formarine trades and other supporting industries will dwindle. Traditional festivals will cease for lack of meaning.
Artists will lose their focal point. People’s lives will change. Kurlansky wants better for Gloucester – and for the fish that started it all.

WRITING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
Though he’s an award-winning author of several international best sellers, Kurlansky finds special pleasure in writing for children. “I like writing books for children because children are exciting readers. They don’t think they know anything and they have a thirst to find out,” he explains.
The Cod’s Tale, an illustrated adaptation of the book for adults, is one of Kurlansky’s works for children. The informative and factual narrative perfectly pairs with colorful, sometimes comical, artwork by S.D. Schindler. Another book, AWorldWithout Fish, is coming soon. “If you want to change the world, write for children,” Kurlansky advises. Today’s young people are growing up with greater environmental awareness than previous generations and will need to be better equipped with
information. “I struggle to not simplify things for kids, but to present problems in their complexity,” he adds. “The next step is to have them realize the whole notion of humane solutions.” People need to earn a living and have economic activity, so a ban on fishing is not the answer.

What will happen next for the fishery and for Gloucester? Will cod, no longer a symbol of prosperity, become an allegory about human immoderation – or a model of preservation and restoration? The story is still unfolding.

Books by Mark Kurlansky

Whether for children or adults, Kurlansky’s books both educate and entertain.
Read one soon and you’ll enjoy a bountiful catch. The books are available at all
the major book sites; Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders and Mark Kurlansky emphasizes that
you support your local book stores. Here are just some of his titles from Riverhead
Books but we can share with you that his writing –both fiction and non-fiction are highly
entertaining.
His highly praised new book, THE EASTERN
STARS: HOW BASEBALL CHANGED THE DOMINICAN
TOWN OF SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS.
The story of a small, impoverished community in
the Dominican Republic that has produced,
to-date, 79 Major League baseball players.
THE FOOD OF A YOUNGER LAND, an
exploration of food in 1940 America before
highways and chain restaurants.
THE LAST FISH TALE: The Fate of the Atlantic
and survival in Gloucester, America’s Oldest Port
and Most Original Town.
From Penguin, COD: A BIOGRAPHY OF
THE FISH THAT CHANGED THE WORLD, a
best –seller, translated into more than twenty
languages. A fascinating, entertaining read on
the 1000 year history of the Cod
And these children’s treasures written by Mark
Kurlansky and Illustrated by S.D. Shindler from G.P.
Putnum‘s Sons:
THE COD’S TALE has been translated into
several languages. This is the children’s version
of his best selling Cod book, a marvelous history
and humor, delightfully entertaining.
THE STORY OF SALT, another children’s
version adapted from his best seller Salt. This is
the story of how salt shaped history only to lose
its value.