[9] FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



The "iron-strap," a piece of wliale-line, is fastened at one end around 

 the shank with a round turn and a splice just above the serving, and has 

 an eye-splice in the other into which the tow-line is made fast. 



The iron-sheaths for the heads of the instruments are made of white 



pine, two pieces, gouged or scooped out; fastened together with wooden 



pins, or slugs of lead, covered with canvas, and painted; usually made 



at sea. 



WHALING-GUNS. 



The guns employed in the whale-fishery were primarily intended to 

 impel modified harpoons known as "gun-harpoons" or " gun -irons," but 

 have been subsequently used with better success in connection with the 

 explosive lance. 



Guns of this description may be classified as (1) small arms, (2) ord- 

 nance, and (3) rocket-guns. 



This classification does not embrace the so-called "harpoon-gun," 

 which is merely an instrument with an explosive head thrust by hand, 

 and is properly an explosive harpoon. It should be mentioned, how- 

 ever, that the darting-guns are sometimes known as harpoon-guns. 



Of the first class there are two types : the single muzzle-loaders and 

 the single breech-loaders* ; the second class embraces the swivel-guns; 

 and the third, the Eoys gun and the California whaling-rocket. 



Small Arms. 



The Shoulder-Gun. — The first shoulder-guns used for the capture 

 of the whale were " muzzle-loaders," and were made with either metal 

 or wooden stocks, and the ordinary percussion locks. Various devices 

 have been resorted to to j)erfect guns of this character, some of which 

 have not been patented. Among the most prominent may be mentioned 

 C. 0. Brand's guns with skeleton iron stocks, embracing three numbers, 

 ranging from 1 to 3 inclusive, No. 1 being the smallest; the "Grud- 

 chos & Eggers " whaling rifle with walnut stock ; the " Brown " gun 

 with gun-metal stock and barrel; and several other kinds whose identity 

 cannot at present be determined, among which maybe mentioned those 

 with steel barrels and walnut stocks and those with steel barrels and 

 brass stocks. 



Muzzle-loading guns were successfully employed in connection with 

 the bomb-lances until about 1877 or 1878, at whicli time the improved 

 breech-loading guns were patented and introduced. The whalemen of 

 Provincetown, Massachusetts, prefer to use the " Brand " guns, and the 

 whalemen of New Bedford and elsewhere invariably use the breech- 

 loaders, which are known respectively as the "Pierce & Eggers" and 

 the "Cunningham & Cogan." A new shoulder-gun has recently been 

 placed on the market by H, W. Mason, of New Bedford. 



The guns are discharged from the head of the boat, and are made fast 



* Magazine guns are not used in the whale-fishery. 



