ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 129 
of the different shapes is no less noteworthy from the fact that 
all are peculiarily American. In the enormous collection of 
fishery implements cf all lands in the late exhibition at Berlin, 
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 aa 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 
whose axis 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 with- 
drawal 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 principle of the whale-harpoon or toggle-iron is similar, 
except that the pole is not withdrawn, and the head, turning up- 
on 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 
swordfish 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 forgedan open- 
ing to which the harpoon-line is attached. The dart-head is 
usually made of steel; sometimes of iron, which is generally 
galvanized ; sometimes of brass. 
The entire weight of the harpoon-pole, shank, and head should 
not exceed eighteen pounds. 
The harpoon-line is from fifty to one hundred and fifty fa- 
thoms longs, and is ordinarily what is known as “ fifteen-thread 
line,” At the end is sometimes fastened a buoy, and an ordin- 
ary mackerel keg is generally used for this purpose. 
