[43] FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 313 



Pierce's darting-chin harpoon — Continued. 



iron ; rear portion piping, screwed into end of forward part. 

 Iron- link, twisted, attached to middle of shank for iron-strap. 

 Iron-strap, whale-line. Button, felt. Point of toggle fractured. 

 Length, 24£ inches. Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1882. 56227. 



Gift of I A. Small. Marked "B N " (initials of vessel). 



Formerly used with the first darting gun. 



PRUSSIC ACID HARPOONS. 



PRUSSIC ACID HARPOON WITH FIXED HEAD. 



Consists of a fixed head of highly-tempered steel, with two rigid 

 steel blades slotted on either side at right angles, and two mova- 

 ble barbs pivoted, one on either side, to its rear ; and of a slidiDg 

 attachment, moving independently of the fixed head, com- 

 posed of two rigid and two movable barbs. The shank is 

 wrought iron, with a socket at one end, and a slot, 8 inches in 

 length, cut by hand, in the other. The piece composing the 

 adjustable barbs is cast with a longitudinal slot on either side, 

 to correspond in size to the sides of the slotted end of the shank. 

 In process of manufacture the sides of the slotted end of the 

 shank are heated and " spread " ; the movable barbs having been 

 inserted, the sides are closed permanently to prevent the barbs 

 from being released, but affording ample room for them to move 

 back and forth longitudinally. The vials of poison may be in- 

 serted in the space between the fixed head and the independ- 

 ent barbs. When the harpoon is thrown into the whale the 

 action of the flesh and the resistance upon the line draws the 

 adjustable barbs in the direction of the fixed head, crushes the 

 vials, and destroys the whale. Length, 45 inches. Nantucket, 

 Massachusetts, 1882. 56260. Gift of Mr. Joseph B. Macy. 

 Rare. Not used at present. 



PRUSSIC ACID HARPOON WITH ADJUSTABLE HEAD. 



The head consists of a diamond-pointed, highly tempered piece of 

 steel, with two rigid fin-like blades, or barbs, slotted through 

 it at right angles ; two movable flukes, or toggles, pivoted to 

 its rear ; and a neck, cast with the head, 9 inches long. The 

 shank terminates in a socket for the pole, and is slotted at the 

 forward end, forming a recess for the neck. The neck is ad- 

 justed longitudinally in the slot in such a manner that while it 

 may be moved back and forth with great facility, being held 

 by a metal pin, it cannot be separated from the shank. The 

 neck is fluted or grooved on the two sides which are abreast 

 the openings of the slot near the end of shank. Two vials of 

 poison may be placed respectively in the recesses when the 

 head is in repose. When the instrument is imbedded in the 



