Captain Hake, born in Hobart Tasmania in 1850, sailed on vessels under canvas and vessels under steam and spent 11 years in the whale trade, before taking on a Pilot position at Macquarie Harbour in 1895 followed by Harbour Master and Master Warden of the Strahan Marine Board. The book presents a glimpse of Strahan during the turn of the 20th century and the massive Harbour Works undertaken to create safe passage through Hell's Gates. In this research he emerges as foremost a man of the sea, disciplined, courteous and a gentleman.