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1 year ago in Environmental History , Maritime Studies By Supriya Mishra
What historical sources discuss the exploitation of turtles in the 1700s?
I'm working on a chapter about colonial-era resource extraction and its environmental consequences. I've hit a gap in my literature review concerning marine resource use, specifically the systematic hunting of turtles for food, oil, and shell. I'm looking for archival references, logbooks, or merchant accounts that detail this practice.
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By Kriya Answered 1 year ago
From my experience in maritime archival research, this is a fascinating niche. I would recommend starting with the logbooks and correspondence of the British East India Company and vessels from the Miskito Coast, which often detail turtle captures for shipboard provisions. For secondary analysis, I've found the work of historians like John R. McNeill on ecological exchange in the Caribbean indispensable. Also, don't overlook digitized newspaper databases from port cities like London and Boston for advertisements selling turtle oil and shell, which provide concrete commercial context. This multi-source approach will give you a robust picture.
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