This book is a record of the whale bone monuments in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, The Bahamas, Bequia, Bonaire, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Martinique, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, British Antarctic Territories, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia.
It is the seventh in a series about the practical and decorative uses to which the huge skulls, jawbones shoulder blades, vertebrae and ribs of the blue, sei fin, right, minke and sperm whales have been put, from early times to the present day. It brings together the many historical and modern references on the subject which the author has collected over the years. His information has been derived from all the usual sources – antiquarian and historical accounts, the journals of learned societies, engravings, paintings, drawings and photographs, newspapers, letters, diaries, directories, books, poems; and the recollections, memories and records of many individuals.
The book differs from the preceding six volumes in that, in most cases, the author has not personally visited the locations. He has therefore had to rely to a great extent on secondary sources.