Charles Melville Scammon

Charles Melville Scammon (1825-1911) was an American whaling captain and naturalist. His book, The Natural History of Cetaceans and Other Marine Mammals of the West Coast of North America (1872), is an important work in the history of whaling , based on his own observations as a whaler .

Charles Melville Scammon Biography

• Born May 28, 1825 in Pittston, Maine, USA.
• He began his career as a sailor in his teens and later became the captain of a whaling ship.
• He was involved in whaling for many years , mainly on the west coast of North America .
• In addition to whaling, they observe and study cetaceans and other marine mammals.
• In 1872 he published The Natural History of Cetaceans and Other Marine Mammals of the West Coast of North America.
• He died in Oakland, California on May 2, 1911 (aged 85).

Representative works

• Natural History of the Cetaceans and other Marine Mammals of the Western Coast of North America (1872)

Scammon's work and influence

Scammon's book, The Natural History of Cetaceans and Other Marine Mammals on the West Coast of North America, is a valuable record of whales, seals, and other marine mammals, written based on his many years of whaling experience and observations .

This book contains detailed illustrations and diagrams of the morphology, ecology, behavior, and whaling methods of various marine mammals . In particular, his description of the breeding ground of the gray whale , which he discovered and named after himself, "Scammons Lagoon," made a great contribution to the study of marine biology.

Scammon's books are also important sources for understanding the history of whaling. From the perspective of a whaling crew member, he meticulously recorded the whaling situation at the time and its impact on the whale ecosystem.

Scammon was not only a whaling captain, but also a naturalist with excellent observational skills and record-keeping abilities. His works not only contributed to the development of marine biology, but also played a major role in promoting the importance of nature conservation.