A Guide to Whale Watching in the Maritimes

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

This bare-bones field guide to the 16 whale, dolphin, and porpoise
species found in the Atlantic around Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and
Prince Edward Island is useful but uninspiring.

For each of the 16 species Lawley gives average length and weight, skin
color and patterns, diet, gestation period, life expectancy, description
of dorsal fin, and abundance (from common to endangered). A one-page
essay on each species supplements these facts with notes on behaviors,
migration, habitat, and so on. Also included are “field marks,” such
as the shape and height of the vapor from the blow, profile at the
surface, and shape of the flukes.

One of the unique features is a brief essay on whale watching from
land, with notes on the best spots to visit. The rest of the guide
consists of a directory of whale-watching cruises (name, address, and
phone number), and some anecdotal material from the author’s personal
experiences.

Lawley is a better whale watcher than writer. His flat prose gives the
impression that he was bored with the project long before it went to
press.

A lot of space is given to the black-and-while illustrations by Sybil
Turnbull. These are of dubious quality at best.