Crocodile Trader

Written in 1960, the author tells the (true) story of two Rhodesian men who take employment with a big talking American who is in the Zambezi River to live capture crocodiles to ship back to the States.
Bill Sutherland is the lead man in this story, accompanied by Graham Hall, both young and capable in the outdoors, and somewhat experienced at hunting.

The book starts out with the men dodging the new laws preventing the hunting of crocodiles, as they work the backwaters collecting up skins and selling them on. Approached by Arthur Jones, with the promise of a trip to America to accompany the crocodiles, it was too good an offer, considering the local ranger already had them under his watch.

Ahead of his time, Jones adapted his extensive knowledge of Alligators in America, and constantly proved the Rhodesian ‘self educated experts' wrong with his unconventional but practical methods.
Taking to poaching at night to collect up skins to make some side cash, our two men also have to come up with new methods (to avoid gunshots, which would give their game away), and so develop shallow harpooning (to avoid piercing the belly skin - which is the most valuable part of the croc) and roping techniques. Staying a step ahead of Jones is more difficult, and Jones' unwillingness to believe their advice on local conditions - especially the rapid flooding of the Zambezi - leads to more problems, but certainly plenty of excitement.

Not a long book, but certainly action packed and exciting, it is well written and interesting. It is a quick and easy read - I read 3/4 of it on a 3 hour flight home from Sydney - but very entertaining.

4.5 stars rounded down, but I guess I have a thing for these crocodile hunting type books, maybe I should make a shelf!