ABSTRACT OF ENGLISH .FISHERIES PATENTS. 21 



No. 1110 of 1857. — TiNDALL. — To obtain precision in firing, non-liability 

 to derangement, to hold the fish in whatever position the harpoon is 

 lodged, and to increase the efiiciency : 



The muzzle of the gun is of smaller diameter than the rest of the barrel, 

 for fitting on a collar contained in the center of the harpoon-head when 

 the harpoon is to be discharged. Collar has on each side a short barbed 

 harpoon-piece, with the barbed ends turned backwards. Line attached 

 to harpoon-pieces by means of a thimble connecting it with a shackle, 

 jointed to the harpoon-pieces. Gnn loaded with a long cylindso-conoidal 

 missile, a short piece of the after end of which is made to fit the bore of 

 the gun, whilst the rest is of a reduced diameter, terminating in a cone 

 or point. Mouth of harpoon collar fits exactly to smaller forward por- 

 tion of the cylindrical ball, and is turned out internally to fit to the angle 

 forming the connection between the larger and smaller diameters of 

 the ball. Ball in barrel close up to powder of charge, and collar with, 

 its duplex harpoon being placed upon the muzzle, it follows that when 

 the weapon is discharged the ball enters the collar, but being caught 

 therein at the part behijid exactly fitting the bore, it carries away the 

 duplex harpoon and the line with it. Ball and harpoon thus enter the 

 fish together. 



"With duplex harpoon just described may use an expanding harpoon 

 Qr harpoon- shot, the two harpoon pieces or arras which it carries being 

 folded down and retained by the barrel of the gun. A spring throws 

 them out when the harpoon is discharged, and ijuU of the fish expands 

 them fully. Arms of this harpoon are at right angles to those of the 

 main harpoon. The expanding harpoon has studs to guide it and secure 

 the correct relative position of the two sets of harpoon arms. 



In another form, shown in figure 6, the head is of the common form, 

 but fitted with a solid cylindrical shank passed through a cross-piece 

 which fits upon the muzzle of the gun at a distance to allow the escape 

 of the compressed air when the gun is fired. To this cross-piece is at- 

 tached the "shackle for connection with the line and rings. The after 

 end of the harpoon shank has a stud or collar piece, and when the gun 

 is fired this stud or collar piece strikes against the arm through which 

 the shank is passed, thus carrying the line along with it. Drawing, 

 Plate VI. 



Xo. 2301 of 1857. — EoYS. — Eocket with an explosive charge in its 

 head is attached to a feathered shaft provided with barbs. The rope or 

 chain is attached near the rocket-head and is also provided with barbs. 

 Drawing, Plate VII. 



No. 2340 of 1857. — EoYS. — A small tube has barbs projecting from 

 the sides, and to these a bridle is attached, which is connected to a cord 

 or chain, and upon this a cross-bar is fixed to prevent the shell passing 

 through or entering too far into the fish. No drawing. 



