A History of Turtlers and Schooners of the Cayman Islands
The Caymanian turtler chose a most dangerous occupation - going to sea to face unforeseen weather and ocean conditions, with the ever-present threat of never returning home - just to earn something to take care of his family. In the following pages, we will track the journey of the turtlers from their beginnings to their eventual replacement by large international shipping lines such as National Bulk Carriers and the Great White Fleet. The story will not comprise a comprehensive study but instead offers the true, personal, and often unbelievable experiences of Cayman's amazing seafaring ancestors. The turtlers themselves recounted these stories, with the collected tales preserved for future generations. The stories of the schooners comprise a large part of the book, as they are...
The Caymanian turtler chose a most dangerous occupation - going to sea to face unforeseen weather and ocean conditions, with the ever-present threat of never returning home - just to earn something to take care of his family.
In the following pages, we will track the journey of the turtlers from their beginnings to their eventual replacement by large international shipping lines such as National Bulk Carriers and the Great White Fleet. The story will not comprise a comprehensive study but instead offers the true, personal, and often unbelievable experiences of Cayman's amazing seafaring ancestors. The turtlers themselves recounted these stories, with the collected tales preserved for future generations.
The stories of the schooners comprise a large part of the book, as they are forever tied to the history of the turtlers and their journey.
The history of Cayman's turtle industry is different from the typical story of the Caribbean, and there remains great respect for the maritime heritage of Caymanians.
Author: Cayman Islands Maritime Foundation
