WRECKERS IN THE BAHAMAS

[aukepalmhof]

The early 19th century saw wrecking at a high point when salvaged goods became the largest export of the Bahamas islands. Between 1855 and 1864 over $120,000 worth of goods was salvaged. In 1858 over 300 vessels were registered as taking part in the industry.
So popular had wrecking become that the government passed a law to regulate it. All ships and men had to be registered. The first person to arrive at the wreck was to supervise operations as the “wreck master”. How much each person gained from the wreck was also laid down.
Wrecking was considered legal but sometimes Bahamians went beyond the law to make a ship crash upon the rocks. Often warning lights were extinguished, or false beacons were set up on treacherous rocks, luring in the unsuspecting ships. Wrecking, however, began to decline as a means of earning a living. One important development which helped bring this about was the building of lighthouses.

https://thedigitalphilatelist.com/baham ... the-1800s/
Bahamas 1980 16c sg564. Scott?