View source for Mel Fisher

{{Short description|American treasure hunter}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Mel Fisher
| image              = 
| alt                = 
| caption            = 
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1922|08|21}}
| birth_place        = [[Hobart, Indiana]], U.S.
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1998|12|19|1922|08|21}}
| death_place        = [[Key West, Florida]], U.S.
| nationality        = American
| known_for          = Treasure hunting
| occupation         = 
| spouse             = {{Marriage|Dolores "Deo" Horton|1953}}
| children           = 5
}}

'''Mel Fisher''' (August 21, 1922 – December 19, 1998) was an American [[treasure hunting|treasure hunter]] who spent decades treasure hunting in the [[Florida Keys]]<ref name="MEL'S STORY">{{cite web |url=http://www.melfisher.org/melstory.htm |title=MEL'S STORY |accessdate=2009-09-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130415091255/http://www.melfisher.org/melstory.htm |archivedate=2013-04-15 }}</ref> and is best known for finding the 1622 wreck of the ''[[Nuestra Señora de Atocha]]'' in the 1970s.

==Early life==
{{History of Key West}}
Fisher was an Indiana-born former chicken farmer who eventually moved to [[California]].{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} He opened the first diving shop in the state, called "See Da Sea". He attended [[Purdue University]]. In 1953, he married Dolores (Deo) Horton who became his business partner. She was one of the first women to learn how to dive and set a women's record by staying underwater for 50 hours. Mel and Deo had five children.

==The Slave Ship ''Henrietta Marie''==
In 1972, Fisher's company found the wreck of the slave ship ''[[Henrietta Marie]]'' during the search for the ''[[Nuestra Señora de Atocha]]'' and other ships of the 1622 [[Spanish treasure fleet]] that had wrecked along the [[Florida Keys]] in a hurricane. Two anchors and a cannon were found on the first visit. The wreck was visited again in 1973. Some artifacts were collected from the wreck, including [[bilboes]], iron shackles that were used to restrain slaves. When they realized that the wreck was likely a slave ship, not a treasure ship, the company reburied the artifacts and pieces of the ship's hull that they had exposed and left the site. In 1983 through 1985 Henry Taylor, sub-contracting with Mel Fisher's company, excavated the wreck (known as the ''English wreck'') with the assistance of [[archaeologist]] David Moore. The wreck was identified when a bronze [[ship's bell]] carrying the inscription ''The Henrietta Marie 1699'' was found at the wreck site. Survey and excavation of the wreck site has continued at intervals.<ref>Cottman, Michael H. (1999) "The Ghosts of the ''Henrietta Marie''". ''Washington Post'', Sunday, February 7, 1999. Found at [https://web.archive.org/web/20120316132139/http://hrd1715.com/HenriettaMarie.html]</ref><ref name=Konstam>Konstam, Angus. (1999) ''The History of Shipwrecks.'' The Lyons Press. {{ISBN|978-1-58574-620-0}} Found at [https://books.google.com/books?id=qKEdrqnExSkC&q=The+History+of+Shipwrecks.+site:books.google.com Google Books], pp. 140-41</ref><ref name="MFslaveShip">{{cite web |title=The Henrietta Marie an English Merchant Slave Ship, wrecked 1700 |url=https://www.melfisher.org/henrietta-marie-1700 |website=Mel Fisher Maritime Museum}}</ref><ref name=CoreyBilboes>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151218090323/http://www.melfisher.org/pdf/Henrietta_Marie_Iron_Bilboes.pdf Malcom, Corey. "The Iron Bilboes of the ''Henrietta Marie''". At]</ref>

In 1993, the [[National Association of Black Scuba Divers]] (NABS) placed a [[memorial plaque]] on the [[seabed]] near the wreckage site, which reads “Henrietta Marie: In recognition of the Courage, Pain and Suffering of Enslaved African People. Speak her name and gently touch the souls of our ancestors."<ref name="Cooper2024">{{cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Julie |title=Unearthed shipwreck reveals secrets of transatlantic slave trade in new exhibit in Key West |url=https://www.wlrn.org/arts-culture/2024-11-27/henrietta-marie-slave-ship-key-west |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=[[WLRN-TV]] |date=November 27, 2024}}</ref>

In November 2024, the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum opened a new exhibit about the [[transatlantic slave trade]] and its connections with the [[Florida Keys]], centered on artifacts from the ''Henrietta Marie'' along with materials sourced elsewhere.<ref name="Cooper2024"/>
 
==The Atocha==
Fisher began searching for the [[Spain|Spanish]] [[galleon]] ''[[Nuestra Señora de Atocha]]''<ref name="http://www.melfisher.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.melfisher.com/ |title=Home |website=melfisher.com}}</ref> named after a parish in Madrid for protection.<ref>"1622 Fleet (http://www.melfisher.org/1622.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070419143524/http://www.melfisher.org/1622.htm |date=2007-04-19 }})". Retrieved 2009-09-15.</ref> He discovered silver bars from the wreck in 1973, and in 1975, Mel found five bronze cannons whose markings would prove to be that of the ''Atocha''.

On July 20, 1975, Fisher's oldest son Dirk, his wife Angel, and diver Rick Gage died after their boat sank due to bilge pump failure.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1975/07/21/archives/3-drown-on-mission-to-salvage-100million-in-sunken-treasure.html 3 Drown on Mission to Salvage $100 ‐Million in Sunken Treasure]. nytimes.com JULY 21, 1975 (Retrieved on May 22, 2017)</ref>

The State of [[Florida]] claimed title to the wreck and forced Fisher's company, Treasure Salvors, Inc., into a contract giving 25% of the found treasure to the state. Fisher's company fought the state, claiming the find should be the company's exclusively. After eight years of litigation, the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] ruled in favour of Treasure Salvors and it was awarded rights to all found treasure from the vessel on 1 July 1982.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://atochastory.com/ | title=Treasure Of Atocha by Dr. R. Duncan Mathewson III | publisher=atochastory.com/ | accessdate=4 October 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005193935/http://atochastory.com/ | archive-date=5 October 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Florida Department of State v. Treasure Salvors, Inc., et al.|url=http://www.admiraltylawguide.com/supct/TreasureSalvors.htm|publisher=Admiralty and Maritime Law Guide|accessdate=13 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209233708/http://www.admiraltylawguide.com/supct/TreasureSalvors.htm|archive-date=9 February 2019}}</ref>

The estimated $450 million cache recovered, known as "The Atocha Motherlode," included 40 tons of gold and silver; there were some 114,000 of the [[Spain|Spanish]] silver coins known as "[[Spanish dollar|pieces of eight]]", [[gold]] coins, [[Colombia]]n [[emerald]]s, gold and silver [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]], and 1000 silver ingots.<ref name="http://www.melfisher.com"/><ref name="MEL'S STORY" /> The emeralds from the ''Atocha'' are some of the finest emeralds in the world. They come from the [[Muzo#Emerald mining|Muzo Mine]] in Colombia. The emeralds of Muzo are renowned for their color, fire, and geometry.<ref>{{cite web |title=Muzo Emerald Mines |url=https://www.marcialdegomarcollection.com/muzo-emerald-mines |website=marcialdegomarcollection.com |publisher=Emeralds International LLC |accessdate=11 August 2020}}</ref>

Large as it was, this was only roughly half of the treasure that went down with the ''Atocha''. The [[aftcastle|stern castle]] of the ship holding more gold and Muzo emeralds has not been found {{as of|2017|08|lc=yes|post=.}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schultz |first1=Norm |title=The quest for the Atocha |url=https://www.tradeonlytoday.com/columns-blogs/the-quest-for-the-atocha |accessdate=11 August 2020 |work=Soundings Trade Only Today - Daily News for Marine Industry Professionals |publisher=Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. an Active Interest Media company. |date=August 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811172057/https://www.tradeonlytoday.com/columns-blogs/the-quest-for-the-atocha|archive-date=2020-08-11}}</ref> Also still missing are 300 silver bars and 8 bronze [[cannon]]s, among other things.{{Citation needed |date=April 2024}}

[[File:Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum.jpg|thumb|{{center|The [[Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum]]<br /> [[Key West, Florida]]}}]]

The site of the wreckage of the ''Atocha'', called "The Bank of Spain" (a sandy area 22 feet deep and within 200 yards of the anchor location),<ref name="ATcompany">{{cite web |url=http://www.atochatreasures.com/1622_spanish_treasure_fleet_by_r.htm |title=www.atochatreasures.com, "The Bank of Spain" |accessdate=2008-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511233819/http://atochatreasures.com/1622_spanish_treasure_fleet_by_r.htm |archive-date=2008-05-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> is still being worked on and treasures are slowly being recovered.

==Other finds==
Fisher and Treasure Salvors found remains of several other shipwrecks in Florida waters, including the ''Atocha's'' sister galleon the ''Santa Margarita'', lost in the same year, and the remains of a slave ship known as the ''[[Henrietta Marie]]'', lost in 1700. Mel Fisher's company, Mel Fisher's Treasures, sold the rights to the [[1715 Treasure Fleet]] shipwreck to Queens Jewels, LLC.

==Counterfeit sales==
In 1998, Fisher's retail sales subsidiary Crystals of Delaware pled [[no contest]] to charges of fraud in a [[plea agreement]] with the Monroe County state's attorney for the sale of counterfeit coins bearing a 1733 fleet insignia.<ref name="Carrier1998">{{cite news |last1=Carrier |first1=Jim |title=Hunter Admits Sale of Fake Gold Coins |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/27/business/international-business-hunter-admits-sale-of-fake-gold-coins.html |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 27, 1998}}</ref> Mr. Fisher had purchased the coins from Walter J. Kruse, a longtime associate with a [[criminal record]] for previous sale of counterfeit coins, but sold them with a signed certificate stating that he himself had found them.<ref name="Carrier1998"/> Fisher's company agreed to pay in excess of $67,000 to identified claimants,  and to maintain a $50,000 fund for any additional customers who stepped forward during a three year [[probation period]].<ref name="Carrier1998"/>

==Legacy==
Fisher hired Duncan Matthewson as chief archaeologist during the ''Atocha'' period, and Treasure Salvors, Inc.'s employees became experts in recovery and conservation of underwater artifacts. Fisher agreed to sell Treasure Salvors in 1986<ref>{{cite news |title=Four Atlanta Businessmen Buy Treasure Salvors |url=https://apnews.com/6e3be22ecb5c9bbd0b29a0a0ef8e7a36 |accessdate=11 August 2020 |work=[[Associated Press]] |date=December 5, 1986|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811160445/https://apnews.com/6e3be22ecb5c9bbd0b29a0a0ef8e7a36|archive-date= 2020-08-11}}</ref> and it remained active as of 2009. Fisher's business continued as Mel Fisher's Treasures.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mel Fisher's Treasures |url=https://www.melfisher.com/default.html |website=melfisher.com |accessdate=11 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520203551/https://www.melfisher.com/default.html|archive-date= 2020-05-20}}</ref> Fisher blended private and public interests when it came to underwater cultural resources. Concern in the U.S., and Florida specifically, for protection of submerged archaeological sites contributed to the 2001 adoption of the [[UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage]].<ref name="MEL'S STORY" />

==In popular culture==
* Featured on the game show ''[[To Tell the Truth]]'' episode January 2, 1974.
* Featured in ''[[National Geographic Explorer]]'' episode ''Quest for the Atocha'' Season 2  Episode 16 (1986)
* Featured in ''[[City Confidential]]'' episode ''Key West: Pirates in Paradise'' Season 3, Episode 4 (2000)
* A film about him, ''[[Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story]]'' was released in 1986, starring [[Cliff Robertson]] and [[Loretta Swit]].<ref>''New York Magazine'', November 17, 1986 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=w-cCAAAAMBAJ&dq=The+Mel+Fisher+Story&pg=PA84 Page 84 Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story, (November 15; 9 to 11 PM; CBS)]</ref>
*In the novel ''Supernatural: Bone Key'' based on the American TV series ''[[Supernatural (U.S. TV series)|Supernatural]]'', protagonist [[Dean Winchester]] is infused with all of the ghosts on [[Key West]] to fight a vengeance spirit called the Last Calusa. Mel Fisher is one of the spirits infused into Dean who relives Mel's burning desire to find the shipwreck. During the battle, Dean is able to use the energy he gets from Mel Fisher and the other ghosts to his advantage and destroy the Last Calusa once and for all.
* Mentioned in the ''[[Microsoft Flight Simulator X]]'' Mission: Keys Kayakers
* Featured in [[Travel Channel]]'s ''[[Expedition Unknown]]'' Season 3 Episode 17

==Books regarding Mel Fisher==
*Lyon, Eugene (1979). ''The Search for the Atocha.''  Harper & Row. {{ISBN|0-06-012711-2}}
*McHaley, Beth; Tucker, Wendy (1991). ''Mel Fisher "The World's Greatest Treasure Hunter".''  Salvors, Inc. {{ISBN|0-935031-56-1}}
*Weller, Bob Frogfoot (1996). ''The Dreamweaver: The Story of Mel Fisher and His Quest for the Treasure of the Spanish Galleon Atocha.''  Fletcher and Fletcher. {{ISBN|0-9628359-7-8}}
*Smith, Jedwin (2003). ''Fatal Treasure: Greed and Death, Emeralds and Gold, and the Obsessive Search for the Legendary Ghost Galleon Atocha.''  Wiley. {{ISBN|0-471-69680-3}}
*Clyne, Pat (2010). ''The Atocha Odyssey.''  Terrell Creative. {{ISBN|1-56944-406-4}}
*Joynes, Monty (2015). ''For Love and Treasure: The Life and Times of the World's Most Successful Treasure Hunting Family.''  Seaside Books. {{ISBN| 978-0-692-39931-6}}

==See also==
*[[Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum]]
*[[Mel Fisher's Treasure Museum]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.melfisher.com/ Official website]
*[http://www.melfisher.org/ Mel Fisher Maritime Museum]
* {{YouTube| UarOFggLqMg | "The Sinking of the Galleon Atocha, 1622 - The Model " }}
* {{YouTube|g7jey7YKYp0 |''National Geographic'' Video - ''Atocha: Quest for Treasure''}}
* {{YouTube|o6xLgP66g7k | ''Mel Fisher's Treasures''}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fisher, Mel}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:1998 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Monroe County, Florida]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Florida]]
[[Category:Treasure hunters]]
[[Category:Delta Chi members]]