[€{} MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF THE SWORD-FISHES. 349 
or Indian dart. The form of this weapon has undergone much variation, 
as is Shown in theseries of figures of specimensin the National Museum in 
one of the accompanying plates. The fundamental idea may very possi- 
bly have been derived from the Indian fish-dart, numerous specimens of 
which are in the National Museum, and one form of which is shown in the 
plate by the side of the others. However various the modifications may 
have been, the similarity of the different shapes is no less noteworthy 
from the fact that all are peculiarly American. In the enormous col- 
lection of fishery implements of all lands in the late exhibition at Ber- 
lin, nothing of the kind could be found. What is known to whalers as a 
toggle-harpoon is a modification of the lily-iron, but so greatly changed 
by the addition of a pivot by which the head of the harpoon is fastened 
to the shank that it can hardly be regarded as the same weapon. The 
lily-iron is in principle exactly what a whaleman would describe by the 
word “toggle”. It consists of a two-pointed piece of metal, having in 
the center, at one side, a ring or socket the axis of which is parallel with 
the long diameter of the implement. In this is inserted the end of the 
pole-shank, and to it or near it is also attached the harpoon-line. When 
the iron has once been thrust point first through some solid substance 
such as the side of a fish, and is released upon the other side by the 
withdrawal of the pole from the socket, it is free, and at once turns its 
long axis at right angles to the direction in which the harpoon-line is 
pulling, and thus is absolutely prevented from withdrawal. The prin- 
ciple of the whale-harpoon or toggle-iron is similar, except that the pole 
is not withdrawn, and the head, turning upon a pivot at its end, fastens 
the pole itself securely to the fish, the harpoon-line being attached to 
some part of the pole. The Sword-fish lily-iron head, as now ordinarily 
used, is about four inches in length, and consists of two lanceolate 
blades, each about an inch and a half long, connected by a central piece 
much thicker than they, in which, upon one side, and next to the flat 
side of the blade, is the socket for the insertion of the pole-shank. In 
this same central enlargement is forged an opening to which the har- 
poon-line is attached. The dart-head is usually made. of steel; some- 
times of iron, which is generally galvanized; sometimes of brass. 
The entire weight of the harpoon-pole, shank, and head should not 
exceed 18 pounds. 
The harpoon-line is from 50 to 150 fathoms long, and is ordinarily 
what is known as “fifteen-thread line”. At the end is sometimes 
fastened a buoy, and an ordinary mackerel keg is generally used for 
this purpose. 
In addition to the harpoon, every swordfisherman carries a lance. 
This implement is precisely similar to a whaleman’s lance, except that 
it is smaller, consisting of a lanceolate blade perhaps one inch wide and 
two inches long, upon the end of a shank of five-eighths-inch iron, per- 
haps two or three feet in length, fastened in the ordinary way upon & 
pole 15 to 18 feet in length. 
