author
Walter H. (Walter Herbert) Rich
b. 1866
A self-taught Maine naturalist and artist, he turned a close knowledge of birds, marine life, and local waters into books that still appeal to readers interested in nature and coastal history. His work blends careful observation with the practical eye of someone deeply connected to New England life.
1 Audiobook
Fishing Grounds of the Gulf of Maine
by Walter H. (Walter Herbert) Rich
About the author
Born in 1866, Walter Herbert Rich was a Maine writer, artist, and naturalist whose work grew out of a lifelong interest in the natural world. The Maine State Library notes that he graduated from Portland High School in 1885, later worked with the Fisheries Service for 23 years, and became curator of the Portland Society of Natural History's museum.
He was especially known for painting marine and bird life in watercolor and oil, and later accounts describe him as a largely self-taught artist. That background helps explain the appeal of his books: they are rooted in direct observation and in a practical understanding of wildlife, fisheries, and the Maine coast.
Rich is best remembered in books today for works such as Fishing Grounds of the Gulf of Maine and Feathered Game of the Northeast. He died in 1948, leaving behind a body of work that sits comfortably between natural history, field knowledge, and regional writing.