What was daily life like for a sailor in the War of 1812? How was his ship constructed? What allowed some shipping companies to survive in the harsh world of early unrestrained competition on the Great Lakes while many others failed? What sorts of stories did common sailors write about sailing the lakes? Such questions form the basis of this multifaceted collection of essays, "A Fully Accredited Ocean, " edited by Victoria Brehm. The issues presented here address the fundamentals of existence of life on the lakes for a period of nearly two centuries. These essays bring to light some of the massive disruptions that affected the Great Lakes region as it became one of the most industrialized areas on the continent. The essayists explore the culture of the lakes through the archaeological investigation of the War of 1812 brig Jefferson, women on the lakes, fishing crafts of Isle Royale, and through personal narrative that touches on the competing concerns of occupational fishers, sports enthusiasts, lake biologists, and the state. Victoria Brehm is Assistant Professor of English, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan.