I'm reading a wonderful book entitled "The Sea Witch" a narrativ e of the experiences of Capt. Roger Murray during the years 1846 to 1856 by Alexander Laing.

It seems bursting with bits of sea anecdote. I was wonderring if anyone else had heard of the book or even read it.

One claim, in part of this novel (damned frustrating that it isnt completely fiction or non fiction!) is :

.. the true shanties -- songs of the shanty-dwelling New Orleans roustabouts -- over the more intelligible sea songs of his native land (britain). ... for those songs of the shanty negro of the Mississippi Valley, adapted by the Shanty Irish of New York to serve the needs of the Liverpool packets, were ringing across the waters of every harbor and seaway in the world, by right of excellence preeminent in fullfilling their important function.

Bo