[35J FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 305 



CRAFT. 



WHALEMAN'S HABPOONS. 



Non-Explosive — Thrust by Hand. 



two barbs and fixed head. 

 Harpoon. 



Harpoon with fixed, head, double barbed. Slender neck. Length, 

 37 inches. 25010. U. S. Fish Commission. 



Harpoon. 



A very old harpoon, with a double-barbed fixed head, worn out in 

 service by frequent applications to the grindstone. Wrought 

 iron. Eye-splice for iron strap grafted at socket. Cut from a 

 dead whale. Length, 30^ inches. 25902. U. S. Fish Commis- 

 sion. 



The Carsley harpoon. 



Patented by William Carsley, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, 

 July 29, 1841. A two-flued harpoon with fixed head, so con- 

 structed that the barbs are made to stand obliquely to the axis 

 of the shank. On entering the whale the instrument cuts "its 

 way in an oblique or spiral direction, making the incision such 

 that when a strain is brought to bear upon the line attached 

 to the harpoon, either by the resistance of the animal, its efforts 

 to escape, or otherwise, the flukes or barbs will be brought 

 into a position more or less nearly at right angles with the lips 

 of the incision, making it vastly more difficult than is the case 

 with the common harpoon for it to be drawn out backward by 

 returning in the direction of the cut or wound." — (Specification 

 of patent.) Length, 37 inches. Fairhaven, Massachusetts, 

 1882. 56226. Painted vermilion. Manufactured and pre- 

 sented by Luther Cole. 



Double-barbed harpoon. 



Primitive style. Has evidently been used in capturing a whale. 

 Not employed at present. Length, 31f inches. 56246. U. S. 

 Fish Commission. 



Two-flued harpoon. 



A kind of harpoon known as the "English harpoon," formerly used 

 in the American fleet, having been obtained from English ves- 

 sels. Head fixed; two barbs with reverse barbs or "beards" 

 on the rear ends. Chilled wrought iron. Marked "L. B. & 

 Co." (Manufacturers). Length, 38£ inches. New London, Con- 

 necticut. 56257. Gift of C. A. Williams & Co. 

 2444— Bull. 27 20 



