HARPOONS. 325 



thing is to kill the animal as speedily as possible, and this 

 is accomplished by means of what is called a bomb-lance, 

 which is fired from a shoulder-gun, the discharge of which 

 ignites a time-fuse communicating with the powder within 

 the lance and bursting it inside the animal. Such then are 

 the modern means employed in the capture of the largest 

 inhabitants of the ocean ; and it will be evident that with 

 such " apparatus for fishing " as we have now briefly noticed, 

 the chance of the whale's escape when once he has been 

 found has been most materially lessened. 



In the foregoing sketch of the principal methods of 

 fishing in use, we have been enabled to describe somewhat 

 fully those which are most important and productive in 

 consequence of their being largely carried on in our own 

 waters, as well as elsewhere. The descriptions have been 

 based therefore chiefly on our own ways of fishing. Every 

 country, however, which includes either sea or freshwater 

 fisheries amongst its industries has to some extent national, 

 and, more frequently, local, peculiarities in its mode of 

 working them. But although differences of detail may be 

 found in the construction, dimensions, and fitting up of the 

 nets, lines, and other fishing appliances, not only of foreign 

 countries, but also of our own, the same general principles 

 of working will be recognised in the fishing gear employed 

 throughout the world. One particular method may have 

 special importance in one country, and a different kind may 

 predominate in another ; but each is carried on practically 

 in the same manner in whatever seas it may be worked. 

 Methods of fishing new to fishermen generally can hardly 

 be looked for ; but there is probably no kind of fishing 

 gear which is not capable of some improvement either in 

 material, fitting, or some other point. It is only in recent 



