Plate 198. 



BOM15 LANCK AND BKEECH-L(iAl)I.\(i WHALING-GUN. 



Figs. 1,3,3,4 Tbe Pierce boiiili-lance. Tlie fignrt'.s illustrating the lance arc from the drawings accompanying 

 the specification of the patent, and tlic significance of some of the letters will not hoexplained here. Fig. 1 sliows the 

 lance with the wings (O) closed by a niclal ring showing the arrangement when the implement is loaded in the gun. 

 Fig. "2 ri'picscnts the lance with wings expanded, the true jiosition during flight. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the 

 tail-piece with the wings open, ^siid Fig. -X a cross-section of the sanu' showing the wings clo.scd. The fuse is ignited 

 Ipy a percussion cap The cap is i>laccd on the uipi>le (F, Fig. 1) of the fuse tube (D) backward through the fuse- 

 plug and couiniiinicatcs with the magazine (A). A metallic hammer or iilunger (H) is held by a wooden pin (G). 

 The concussion of the explosion of the charge when the gun is fired bnaks the pin and ndcases the hammer, which, 

 violently striking the percussion caji, explodes it and fires the fuse. 



Fig. 5. Pierce and Fgger's breech-loading gnu; length, 301 inches; weight, ^4 iionnds. The gnu in most 

 cummou use. 



"To load tiie gun the lever (c) is raised, the tlniinb inserted at aperture (rf), and the breech-block thrown down 

 to a, when the cartridge can be readily inserted, the bomb-lance having previously lieen placed in the barrel from the 

 ninzzle. The breech-block is then raised and the gun is ready for use." 



