3386 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
Freeman's bomb- harpoon: 
An instrument with an explosive head for killing whales. Consists of a chambered 
head or magazine, which, when loaded, contains a charge fully equal to three-fourths 
of a pound of powder; a shank with a tubular head and two small rigid barbs, and 
socket for the pole. The inside mechanism consists of a time fuse, which extends 
from the shank into the magazine, a nipple for the percussion-cap, an actuating 
spring, and other appliances for releasing the cock, which are concealed in the 
recessed head of the shank. The trigger, or lever-fluke, is fastened by a hinge-pin 
immediately in rear of the lance-bomb. The action of the flesh as the instrument 
enters the whale presses down the trigger or fluke in a line with the shank, and auto- 
matically explodes and impels the head. Reloaded by substituting new heads. 
Length, 403 inches. 
Pierce's darting-bomb: 
A kind of explosive lance known as the ‘‘darting-bomb.’’ Used in connection 
with the darting-gun for killing whales. Patented and manufactured by Capt. 
Eben Pierce. Length, 153 inches. 
Mason’s harpoon-bomb: 
Designed for improved swivel-gun. Consists of a point with three cutting edges, 
and cast-iron bomb, cast-iron shank with four parallel grooves on the sides, and an 
eye at the butt for the iron-strap. Two movable flukes are fastened with a set- 
screw to the forward end of the shank in rear of the bomb. Length, 31? inches. 
Pierce’s bomb-lance: 
A short explosive lance, with four small metal wings, which may be used in con- 
nection with the darting-gun when the latter is used as a shoulder-gun.. Length, 
154 inches. 
Allen’s bomb-lance: 
An example of the first patented bomb-lance used by American whalemen, for 
which letters-patent. were granted Oliver Allen, Norwich, Conn., September 19, 1846. 
(United States Patent Office, No. 4764.) Rare. Familiarly known to the whale- 
men as the broom-stick lance. Length, 42 inches. 
Cunningham & Cogan’s bomb-lance: 
An improved bomb (with rubber feathers) and cartridge combined, used in con- 
nection with Cunningham & Cogan’s breech-loading gun and Cunningham’s darting- 
gun. Patented December 28, 1875. Length, 16% inches. 
Kelleher’s hand bomb-lance: 
Consists of a lance-head, a tubular magazine, and the ordinary harpoon shank, 
secured to a white-ash handle. A sliding clamp attached to a wire by impact 
explodes the bomb by means of a common friction-primer, such as is used for 
discharging pieces of artillery. Socket served with marline to prevent iron-rust. 
Lance-strap spliced around the socket, seized to the handle in three places, and pro- 
jecting through a hole at the butt. Length of lance and shank, 48} inches. Length 
of pole, 70 inches. 
Brand’s bomb-lance, No. 3: 
Used in connection with Brand’s No. 3 shoulder-gun. New model. Patented in 
1879. Not much used at present. Length, 24 inches. 
Improved darting-gun, bomb-lance, and cartridge combined: 
This lance is for seven-eighths of an inch bore and is constructed in the same 
manner as the shoulder-lance, except that it has no feathers, and loads, when using 
powder, from the end to which the cartridge is attached. 
Whaleman’s hand-lance: 
A lance with a short wide blade, formerly used for killing whales. Superseded by 
the explosive lance. Length, 68 inches. 
Whale hand-lance: 
A lance formerly relied upon altogether for killing whales. Length, 5} feet. 
Whale hand-lance: 
A nickel-plated hand-lance, used in giving the death wound. Length, 5} feet. 
Toggle iron. 
