ON BKLMULLET WHALING STATION. 



125 



and appears to be very rich in fat. The flavour resembles that of rich 

 cream, the oily taste which it possesses not being very noticeable. 



On board one of the steamers I found a harpoon which differed 

 considerably from those which I had seen before. This projectile has a 

 rigid shaft, being devoid of the link joint which is present in the ordinary 

 harpoon. There are no barbs. At the anterior end the shaft swells 

 gradually from its normal diameter to a thickness corresponding to 

 the diameter of the base of the cast-iron explosive point. There are 

 the usual arrangements for fitting on the point and for attaching the 

 time fuse. This instrument is called a 'killer,' and is used for giving 

 the coup de grdce to wounded whales when the stock of ordinary 

 harpoons on board the steamer is becoming exhausted. 



Since there are no barbs, the killer may be readily withdrawn from 



MH 



mmmiAtiiimttmmimMm 



-rr-T\iM§m 



B 



Fig. 1.— A. Ordinary Harpoon. B. ' Killer.' 

 I. Wrought-iron shaft, with slot, not visible in A, for wire ring to which the rope 

 is attached. 2. Steel head, with four hinged barbs. 3. Cast-iron explosive 

 point. 4. Wire ring. 



the body of the animal into which it has been fired, after the point has 

 exploded. When a new point has been fixed the harpoon may be again 

 used for a similar purpose. 



The accompanying sketch shows the two forms of harpoon in use 

 (Fig. 1). 



I wish very heartily to thank the British Association's Committee 

 for again giving me an opportunity of working on this interesting 

 subject. 



To my friends Mr. D. Bingham and Captain Lorens Brunn my best 

 thanks are due for ever willing assistance and information. I am also 

 much indebted to Professor W. A. Herdman, F.E.S., and Professor 

 J. Stanley Gardiner, F.E.S., for much kind advice and aid, and to 

 Mr. D. G. Lillie for his communication on the nomenclature of the 

 "Whalebone Whales. 



I have pleasure in again recording the willing help given to me on 

 many occasions by all hands at the station, both Scandinavian and 

 Irish. 



The work of examining the material in detail was carried out in the 

 Zoological Laboratory of King's College, London. 



