The maritime history of Gloucester and the North Shore is jam-packed with dramatic tales of the great port—epic stories of sailors lost at sea, fishermen returning with overflowing holds, and ships meeting their fate on New England's rocky shore. Many historians focus on the great and grand; men and boats alike.

Not so with John Lester Sutherland, who, with this retrospective has revealed the fascinating history of the numerous work vessels that facilitated the rise of America's leading fishing port. Without the tugboats, freight vessels and passenger ferries, and their skilled operators, Sutherland points out, the port could not have functioned at its exemplary level.

Digging into his deep hold of local research, personal and family memories and illustrations, "Let" has brought to life stories of hard-working vessels that are just as compelling as the tall tales of life on the sea. Told at dockside taverns, these stories of adventures and misadventures in the harbor, tiny tugboats saving huge fishing boats and inevitably many bad landings, are captured here to entertain and to preserve an important part of the history of the North Shore.

Growing up a wharf rat and having moved on to leadership positions with city council, John Lester Sutherland is at once part of the history of Gloucester and generous enough to contribute to it.