This chronicle of coastal shipping in the western United States forms an important but hitherto neglected part of the history of transportation in America. From the beginning the seaways were a vital link among the developing West Coast settlements, and even after the completion of a north-south rail line sturdy steamers continued to serve as the major carriers of freight and passengers along the Pacific Coast and as the chief economic and cultural contact of this region with the rest of America. Here, Giles T. Brown surveys this transportation system at the height of its activity and in particular he traces the history of the Admiral Line which dominated West Coast shipping during the early decades of the twentieth century—and whose decline mirrored that of the industry.

In May 1946 John Caldwell set out to sail from Panama to Sydney to reunite with his wife who he hadn't seen for more than a year. Eager to reach his destination and unable to secure any other form of transport, he had to resort to singlehanded seamanship. After an ignominious scene in the harbor, where a tangled anchor led him to take an early dip, he spent ten days learning the rudiments of navigation and sailing from a book, before embarking on the 9,000 mile journey aboard the 20-foot Pagan. Ahead lay a mission that was to reveal in him elements not only of astounding courage and determination, but also of incredible foolhardiness. Within 500 miles of Panama John Caldwell had already been shipwrecked once and had his boat's engine and cockpit destroyed by an angry shark. Indefatigable, he decided to press on towards his goal.He endured the terrors and discomforts of life on the high seas and enjoyed the triumphs of fighting and winning against the elements. This is more than an exciting tale of sea-adventure. It is as compelling and unpredictable as a thriller. It is the story, witty and moving, of a man, motivated initially by love, and ultimately by his own fierce determination to survive.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1872.