226 WHALE-l'ISHERY. 



such as forming the sliank of plies of wire, adding 

 one or two lateral barbs, &c. c^c. they have all given 

 place to the simplicity of the ancient liarpoon. 



A harpoon was recently produced in Hull, the 

 design of which was to prevent the loss of a w halcj, 

 provided the shank of the instrument should happen 

 to break. To effect this, the thick part of the 

 shank immediately adjoining the mouth of the har- 

 poon, was pierced with an oblong hole, in the di- 

 rection of the plane of the withers. Through this 

 hole a small rope, or a strand of whale line, is pas- 

 sed, and both ends secured to tlie line attached to the 

 other end of the hai-poon. Hence, should the shank 

 of the harpoon break, the connection between the 

 line and tlie part of tlic harpoon fixed in the whale 

 is still preserved ; and the connecting material is of 

 such a strength, as to be, in ordinary circumstan- 

 ces, sufficient for completing the capture. The 

 safety rope is no hindcrance to the entrance of the 

 harpoon into the whale, as it serves to increase the 

 breadth of the shank only, and not its thickness ; nor 

 is there any great risk of the shank breaking in the 

 part which is pierced, its strength being very great. 

 This contrivance, on the whole, appears to be 

 calculated for effecting, in a considerable degree, the 

 desirable purpose for which it is intended. 



I have been thus particular in the description of 

 the harpoon, because it is an instrument of greater 

 consequence than any other used in tlie fishery. 



