This volume represents the fruits of a fascinating combination of biological and historical research. There is a rich treasure of biological information residing in the thousands of whaling logbooks and journals and other historical documents dating back as far as the 16th century. Thus aside from there clear historical interest, these records can make, and and indeed have already made, a positive contribution to the present day conservation and management of whales. The seventeen papers in the volume show just how valuable and productive such studies can be.