The Quest of the Schooner Argus; A Voyage to The Banks and Greenland

London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1951. First Edition [Stated], First Printing [Stated]. Hardcover. Good. Alan Villiers (photographer). 256 pages. Endpaper map. Frontis illustration. Some page discoloration. Alan John Villiers (23 September 1903 - 3 March 1982) was an author, adventurer, photographer and mariner. Born in Australia, Villiers first went to sea at age 15 and sailed on board traditionally rigged vessels, including the full-rigged ship Joseph Conrad. He commanded square-rigged ships for films, including Moby Dick and Billy Budd. He also commanded the Mayflower II on its voyage from the United Kingdom to the United States. Villiers wrote 44 books, and served as the Chairman of the Society for Nautical Research, a Trustee of the National Maritime Museum, and Governor of the Cutty Sark Preservation Society. He was awarded the British Distinguished Service Cross as a Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve during the Second World War. Villiers' account of his voyage cod fishing on the four-masted fishing schooner, Argus. He does a spectacular job depicting the men, their daily lives and the art of cod fishing. From an on-line posting: Indispensable reference to those interested in the life at sea of the cod fish fleet of the Great Banks and North Atlantic. Argus is one of the last schooners of the Portuguese White Fleet. The book pays tribute to the Portuguese captains, fisherman and seaman that sailed to the great banks for centuries to fish cod. Very good photos provide a very good idea of the tough working conditions and the unlimited bravery of the Great Banks fisherman. For those more interested in this topic be known that the Argus is back in Portugal. A group of business man and other enthusiasts are planning to bring her back to sailing condition. The Creoula and the Santa Maria Madalena, also mentioned in the book, have been restored and are in sailing condition.