THE WHALE FISHERY. 253 



whalemen, however, Lave never regarded the swivel-gun with much favor, although it has occa- 

 sionally been used by them on the California coast in devil-fishing, or elsewhere in humpbacking, 

 fiubacking, and right whaling, and sometimes in bowheading in the Okhotsk Sea, as well as in 

 humpbacking on the southern coast of Africa, but principally on soundings. They preferred the> 

 light shoulder-guns, which oftentimes " fired aft" with more emphasis than they did forward. 

 The consequence was that the gunner was kicked as far aft as 'midships, and it was found neces- 

 sary then, even as it is now, to tie the gun to the boat with a laniard in order that it could be 

 regained when it was " hoisted overboard." The recoil of the old shoulder-guns was immense. I 

 have heard of two men who had their collar bones brokea-by-a heavy gun. 



The shoulder-guns which are now in such general use are of American invention and manu- 

 facture. The first were muzzle loading, and Provincetown still clings to this type, one of which, 

 the Brand, they prefer. The New Bedford whalemen prefer the improved breech-loading guns. 

 Of the latter there are two kinds now in use, the "Pierce & Eggers" and the "Cunningham & 

 Cogan." The first named is made of gun metal throughout, and the second has the stock of cast 

 iron and barrel of steel. Central-fire cartridges are used.' The Eggers requires a Winchester 

 cartridge No. 8, the bomb-lance being loaded separately, and the Cunningham has a bomb-lance 

 and cartridge combined, made expressly for it, which are placed in the gun simultaneously. A 

 rifle has been used, but it was found impracticable. 



When fire arms were introduced into this fishery there were, as might be expected in regard to 

 any innovation, many arguments against them, but the necessities of the occasion demanded their 

 use, and now the echo of the whaling-gun bounds over the billows in every clime. 



The Brand bomb-gun is worthy of mention as being the first gun successfully used in the 

 American whale fishery. There are three sizes, all of which are muzzle-loaders. The caliber, 

 length, and weight are as follows : No. 1, 38 inches long ; weight, 23 pounds; caliber, seven-eighths 

 of an inch; No. 2, 36 inches long; weight, 19 pounds; caliber, l*g inches. The length and 

 weight of No. 3 have been lost among my notes, but its caliber is 1 \ inches. Some of the barre's 

 are "blued " and others "browned." The ramrods are made of hickory, with brass thimbles and 

 screws. Three drams of powder, sea shooting FFG, are recommended by the manufacturer as a 

 charge for impelling a bomb-lance. 



The Pierce & Eggers gun is one of the latest improved shoulder-guns, and the most popular 

 and effective that has ever been introduced in the whale fishery. It may be used with either the 

 Pierce or Brand explosive lance. It is also one of the most attractive whaling guns in appearance. 

 It is made entirely of gun metal, with a skeleton stock and reinforced barrel. Charge, 2J drams 

 of powder. Its length is 36| inches and its weight 24 pounds. It is manufactured by S. Eggers, 

 New Bedford, Mass. 



The Cunningham & Cogau gun is manufactured by Patrick Cunningham, under the direction 

 of William Lewis, New Bedford, Mass. It is used principally by the crews of the steam barks 

 in the Arctic regions in connection with the Cunningham & Cogan bomb-lance. Its total length 

 is 33 inches and its weight 27 pounds. The stock is made of gray iron, skeleton; the stock and 

 breech-piece are cast in one piece with a small rigid eye at the rear of the guard-plate for the 

 laniard. The barrel is steel, with a bore of 1 inch, reinforced and screwed to the stock. The 

 breech-block, containing the firing-pin, is hinged to tl:e stock, and when closed is held by a snap- 

 spring. The bomb-lance and cartridge combined is loaded at the breech. 



At sea the mates usually have charge of the shoulder-guns and the boat-steerers of the darting- 

 guns. On board ship these weapons are kept in the state rooms suspended over the bunks. In 

 the whale-boat the shoulder-gun is carried at the starboard bow in a long box covered with a 



