WHALE FISHERIES OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS AND DEPENDENCES. 481 



harpoon, it can be raised and lowered and turned from side to side by the harpooner 

 without apparent exertion. The bore of the cannon varies from 3 to 3.1 inches, and its 

 length is about 45 inches. The harpoon is made of the finest tempered Swedish steel, 

 and is about 6 feet in length, weighing slightly over 1 cwt. It has four prongs, which 

 spring out to an angle of about 45 on tightening the line after the harpoon is lodged in 

 the whale's body. The point of the harpoon consists of a cast-iron head or shell of 

 conical shape, about 14 inches in length and weighing from 10 to 12 Ibs. This shell is 

 charged with gunpowder, which is fired by a time-fuse about three seconds after the 

 harpoon has been shot from the cannon. A foregoer of GO fathoms in length and from 

 3^ to 4| inches in circumference, made of the finest Italian hemp, is attached to a ring in 

 the shank of the harpoon. To the other end of the foregoer a 5-inch to 5.1 -inch whale 

 line of 120 fathoms is spliced on. The length may be increased by adding additional 

 lines as may be required. The bow of the vessel is fitted with a double set of rollers over 

 which the lines run, and along the keelson, from the collision bulkhead forward t<i the 

 stokehold bulkhead, are arranged double rows of powerful spiral steel springs, connected 

 to two snatch-blocks above the shrouds of the foremast by strong flexible wire ropes. 



The usual charge for a whaling gun is about 14 ounces of powder, and the range is 

 only 25 yards. If a whale be struck in a vulnerable part, death will usually be instan- 

 taneous. The animal will then immediately sink, drawing with it the whale line. The 

 steamer is brought to a standstill, and when the rope hangs vertically it is stoppered 

 in the bow, and slack is given inboard to allow it to be passed over the snatch-block at 

 the shrouds, from whence it goes to the winch, which raises the whale to the surface. 



The snatch-block is, as stated above, attached to powerful steel springs, and the 

 object of this arrangement is to compensate for the rise and fall of the whaler caused 

 by wave motion, and to effect this these steel springs should be compressible to an 

 extent equal to the difference of level between the top and the bottom of the waves. 

 The elasticity of the whale line itself is not sufficient, and were no accumulators, as 

 these springs are called, fitted, the strain on the rope when heaving in the whale, caused 

 by the rise and fall of the steamer, would be greater than the strength of the line. 



If the whale be not shot dead on the spot, the gunner has to play it in a vn-v 

 similar manner to that of the angler who has hooked a salmon. In both cases the line 

 is much weaker than the weight exercised at its extremity, and the most experienced 

 skill and careful handling have to be exercised. The whaling steamer plavs the whale 

 by manipulating the steam-winch, and also by moving ahead and astern, but it often 

 happens that the rope will be snapped, caused by a sudden jerk. 



The animal having been raised to the surface, a chain is passed round the tail and 

 made fast at the bow of the ship, the foregoer is cut off at the harpoon, and the whale 

 is towed at the side of the vessel tail foremost. In order to make the carcase fioat and 

 thus lessen its towing weight, a hole is pierced through the body into the lungs or the 

 stomach, and the whale is inflated with air by means of a steam air-pipe in the engine- 

 room of the whaler. 



