I nominate Edison McNee Ebanks as a Friend of Seafarers for the following reasons: Edison went to sea as a turtler sailing with his grandfather, Samuel Parsons, as a young man. He was very strong in the water and was often chosen to be the bowsman in the catboats used for hauling in the trapped turtles and placing them in the kraals. However, the seaman's live was not appealing to him and as soon as he was able, with the help of several family members who became shareholders in the business, he managed to open a store, 'E.M. Ebanks and Company'. Located in the heart of central West Bay, this was a general store carrying groceries, dry goods and hardware. Like most merchants of his day, he 'outfitted' many vessels and offered 'credit' to the families of the seamen in return for a portion of the catch on the vessel's return. He was most notably nfluential in supporting two unique sea-based export industries - mangrove bark and shark skins. The mangrove bark was shipped to Thorburn's Leather Company in Kingston, Jamaica. This bark was used in the tanning of leather. The nurse sharks were caught by the turtle rangers at the cays. After skinning and drying the hides, they would then transport them to Mr. Edison who would store these in his warehouse until the shark skins could be shipped to the 'Ocean Leather Corporation' in Newark, New Jersey. Once he received payment, he then remitted payment to the individual families through providing groceries or whatever else they may have needed. Mr. Edison was part owner of two ships: 'Meritwell' and 'Veta Louise'.

I nominate Edison McNee Ebanks as a Friend of Seafarers for the following reasons: Edison went to sea as a turtler sailing with his grandfather, Samuel Parsons, as a young man. He was very strong in the water and was often chosen to be the bowsman in the catboats used for hauling in the trapped turtles and placing them in the kraals. However, the seaman's live was not appealing to him and as soon as he was able, with the help of several family members who became shareholders in the business, he managed to open a store, 'E.M. Ebanks and Company'. Located in the heart of central West Bay, this was a general store carrying groceries, dry goods and hardware. Like most merchants of his day, he 'outfitted' many vessels and offered 'credit' to the families of the seamen in return for a portion of the catch on the vessel's return. He was most notably nfluential in supporting two unique sea-based export industries - mangrove bark and shark skins. The mangrove bark was shipped to Thorburn's Leather Company in Kingston, Jamaica. This bark was used in the tanning of leather. The nurse sharks were caught by the turtle rangers at the cays. After skinning and drying the hides, they would then transport them to Mr. Edison who would store these in his warehouse until the shark skins could be shipped to the 'Ocean Leather Corporation' in Newark, New Jersey. Once he received payment, he then remitted payment to the individual families through providing groceries or whatever else they may have needed. Mr. Edison was part owner of two ships: 'Meritwell' and 'Veta Louise'.