Shipwrecks and Sea Monsters of California's Central Coast

This paperback is a good summary of the multitude of wrecks occurring along California's central coast. Author Reinstedt (note name misspelling above) did his homework in collecting narratives and photos (b/w) of the wrecks of many ships (and one dirigible, the Macon). I also enjoyed his chapter on "sea monsters." Although he states quite clearly that, "with the lack of pictures to document the sightings, most tales of Monterey Bay monsters are scoffed at and looked upon as nothing more than nautical nightmares or the figments of someone's overactive imagination" (p. 137), he notes that if ANYPLACE were home to such mystical creatures it would be Monterey Bay and its submarine canyons. Reinstedt included photos of "Moore's Monster" (a beaked whale?) and a description of Bobo the Sea Monster (a sea mammal with a growth on its head?). A rare book, and nice for the person interested in the lore of Monterey Bay.