The Caymanian catboat: A West Indian maritime legacy

Abstract

The sea turtle occupied an important niche in the development of the West Indies. In the days before refrigeration, European mariners found that this novel and unfamiliar marine creature could easily be captured on remote shores and kept alive on board ship as a source of fresh meat. Three lonely Caribbean landforms surrounded by deep water, the Cayman Islands became known as the largest sea turtle fishery in the region, serving as a seafaring way station for provisions during colonial times. Eventually inhabited by loose bands of maritime peoples, the Cayman Islands witnessed the evolution of a unique boat type designed especially for hunting maritime reptiles. Now extinct, the last of the Caymanian Catboats recently was discovered and recorded during an archaeological survey of the Islands. The craft's special functions and significance are explained in an attempt to prevent its uncelebrated demise.