Diving for Crayfish in South Africa by Colin Vary

Diving for Crayfish in South Africa (First Edition Struik Guide to Rock Lobster Diving)

A practical Struik guide to the South African rock lobster and how it is caught, from first dive to the cooking pot

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Diving for Crayfish in South Africa: A guide to the South African rock lobster and its capture
• Author: Colin Vary
• Publisher: C. Struik Publishers, Cape Town
• Publication Date: 1983
• ISBN-10: 0869771809
• Edition Details: First Edition.
• Binding: Publisher's pictorial laminated boards with a dark blue cloth spine, title, author and Struik logo printed to the spine.
• Physical Format: Medium-sized hardcover, illustrated with colour photographs and line drawings by Margo Branch.
• Language: English

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Very Good Plus (VG+)
• Exterior / Boards: The blue laminated pictorial boards are clean and bright, with no obvious tears or fading. The dark blue cloth spine is neat, with the title, author and Struik logo clearly legible. Corners and edges are tidy.
• Interior: The pages are clean and cream-coloured, with no foxing, markings or writing. The text block is tight. The endpapers are lightly toned, and a small pale mark at the margin of the contents page is the only blemish.
• The Dust Jacket: Not Applicable (As Issued)

Synopsis & Historical Value

Published in Cape Town by C. Struik in 1983, Diving for Crayfish in South Africa is a practical guide to the South African rock lobster and its capture. The author, Colin Vary, draws on many years of diving experience and a detailed knowledge of the animal's habits.

The book begins with the crayfish itself and its biology, then guides the beginner through taking up diving and choosing equipment. It goes on to hunting methods and the hazards of the sport, and sets out the legal restrictions on taking crayfish. The text is illustrated with colour photographs and line drawings by Margo Branch.

It closes with advice on preparing and cooking crayfish and other seafood. The book is a pleasing period record of recreational diving and the shellfish tradition along the South African coast, and a welcome addition to a collection of Africana natural history and outdoor literature.

Diving for Crayfish in South Africa · Colin Vary crayfish book · South African rock lobster guide · Struik 1983 first edition · Africana diving and seafood book · crayfish diving and cooking guide