S24t TTIIALE FISHERY. 



was originally used in the fishery two centuries ag». 

 At that time, the mouth or barhed extremity was 

 of a triangular shape, united to the shank in the 

 middle of one of the sides ; and this being scoop- 

 ed out on each side of the shank, formed two sim- 

 ple flat barbs. In the course of last century, an im- 

 provement was made, by adding another small barb, 

 resembling the beard of a fish-hook, within each of 

 the former withers, in a reverse position. The two 

 principal withers, in the present improved harpoon, 

 measure about 8 inches in length and 6 in breadth ; 

 the shank is 18 inches to 2 feet in length, and /oths 

 of an inch in diameter ; and the socket, which is 

 hollow, swells from the size of the shank to near 2 

 inches diameter, and is about 6 inches in lengtli. 

 Now, when the harpoon is forced by a blow into the 

 fat of the vv^hale, and the line is held tight, the prin- 

 cipal withers seize the strong ligamentous fibres of 

 the blubber, and prevent it from being withdrawn ; 

 and in the event of its being pulled out, so far as to 

 remain entangled by one wither only, which is fre- 

 quently the case, then the little reverse barb, or 

 " stop wither" as it is called, collecting a number of 

 the same reticulated sinewy fibres, which are very 

 numerous near the skin, prevents the harpoon from 

 being shaken out by the ordinary motions of the 

 whale. The point and exterior edges of the barbs of 

 the hai-poon, are sharpened to a rough edge, by means 

 of a file. This part of the harpoon is not formed of 



