FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 15 



Section F.— APPAEATUS USED IN THE WHALING AND 

 SEALING INDUSTEY. 



XXVIIL— Whaling Craft, Harpoons, etc. — Continued. 



118. Earliest types of hand-lances, formerly exclusively used 



for killing Whales, the past and present forms of 

 the lances for killing Seal, Sea-elephant, and Walrus, 

 the old-fashioned, non-explosive gun-lance, and the 

 bomb-lance, darting-bomb, and rocket-bomb of the 

 present. Also an example of the first bomb -lance, 

 according to the records of the United States Patent 

 Office, patented in this country for killing Whales. 

 Two forms of the explosive harpoons, which may be 

 thrust by hand, and one form intended to be used in 

 connection with an improved pivot gun. An explo- 

 sive hand-lance, several bomb lances that have been 

 cut from dead Whales, some of which failed to ex- 

 plode, others being exploded and represented by frag- 

 ments. 



XXIX.— Cutting Gear. 



119. A series of implements known comprehensively as cutting- 



gear and try- works gear, arranged on and about a 

 » pyramidal wooden framework, from the center of 



which the blubber-tackle is suspended. A cutting 

 stage is rigged at the right; upon it is placed a lay 

 figure, life-size, representing an officer in the act of 

 cutting tbe blubber from the whale. Two long slabs 

 of baleen cross each other near the top in the central 

 front, and boat waifs are placed at the right and left 

 corners. Various long-handled implements, including 

 the cutting spades, head-spades, skimmers, and bail- 

 ers, are arranged in frames at the rear. The heavy 

 chains and toggles used for fastening the whale to 

 the vessel, and for hoisting in the blubber, are placed 

 about the base. The superstructure consists of a 

 main royal pole, lookout bows, an American ensign, 

 carried by a whaler during a cruise in Hudson's Bay, 

 and a figure of a petty officer standing upon the cross- 

 trees, with a marine glass at his eye, on the lookout 

 for whales. 



XXX. — Aboriginal Whaling and Sealing Apparatus. 



120. A series of whaling apparatus used by the Indians of Cape 



Flattery, Washington Territory, including the har- 

 poon-staff, harpoon, and lanyards, the lance-pole and 

 lances, the sealskin buoys, and tow-ropes made of the 

 fibers of spruce roots. 



