Van Campen Heilner (1899-1970) was an

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sportsman, and author of works on hunting and fishing. Heilner was born wealthy, his family's wealth, from coal mining, financed his hunting and fishing expeditions around the world. Heilner's hunting and fishing companions included authors

Ernest Hemingway Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. His economical and understated style—which he termed the iceberg theory—had a strong influence on 20th-century fic ...

and Zane Grey. Both Hemingway and Grey provided forewords for some of Heilner's books. In 1920, when he was 21 years old, Heilner became an editor and contributor to

Field and Stream magazine ''Field & Stream'' (''F&S'' for short) is an American online magazine focusing on hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. The magazine was a print publication between 1895 and 2015 and became an online-only publication from 2020. History ...

. He lived for sometime on the island of Bimini in the Bahamas, B.W.I., and there discovered the charm and thrill of bonefishing. He is regarded on Bimini as the "father" of the island's bonefishing industry. His 1937 book, Salt Water Fishing, remains a classic. Heilner was associated with the

American Museum of Natural History The American Museum of Natural History (abbreviated as AMNH) is a natural history museum on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. In Theodore Roosevelt Park, across the street from Central Park, the museum complex comprises 26 inter ...

. His obituary in ''

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'' describes Heilner forming the theory that most sharks were harmless, and then proving it by swimming with many species of sharks, without harm. Heilner was a co-founder, and vice president of the International Game Fish Association. On January 24, 1947, Heilner was staying overnight in the 173 year old mansion on historic Gardiners Island. He was the sole occupant of the mansion, when it was swept by a devastating fire, that totally consumed the structure. He barely escaped by jumping from a second floor window.

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heilner, Van Campen American sportsmen American writers 1899 births 1970 deaths