314 FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [44] 



Prussic acid harpoon with adjustable head — Continued. 



flesh of the whale, the counter-resistance upon the line — the 

 whale moving in the direction of the head, and the weight 

 of the boat being brought to bear upon the shank — the adjust- 

 able head and neck are drawn out until stopped by the metal 

 pin crushing the vials and destroying the whale. Length, 49 

 inches. Nantucket, Massachusetts, 1882. 56261. Gift of 

 Joseph B. Macy. Rare. Not used at present. 



Harpoons projected from Guns. 



non-explosive. 



Smith's gtjn-harpoon. 



Head, or toggle, slotted. Double shank, wrought iron. Endless 

 wire loop for making fast one end of whale-line ; leather pad. 

 Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1876. 29396. Gift of Lemuel 

 Cook 2d. Seldom used at present. 



Allen's gun-harpoon. 



Galvanized. Patented December 5, 1848, by Oliver Allen, of Nor- 

 wich, Connecticut. Fixed head with four barbs. The shank 

 about half its length is composed of an iron rod, which termi 

 nates in a head or button and socket ; the rear portion of the 

 shank malleable cast iron. At the junction of the two pieces 

 of shank is a collar intended to be used as a stop for the iron- 

 strap. Not in use at present. Length, 43J inches. Province- 

 town, Massachusetts, 1876. 29500. Gift of E. K. Cook. 



Gun-harpoon. 



Fixed head, double barbed, diamond point, steel. Two movable 

 flukes, wrought iron, pivoted below head. Shank, double, 

 wrought iron; leather button, screwed. Endless wire loop 

 with leather pad. Length, 16£ inches. Middletown, Connect- 

 icut, 1882. 54333. Gift of A. R. Crittenden. 



Smith's gun-harpoon. 



Movable barb. Head of shank cast with slot for barb; shank, 

 malleable iron, double, provided with wire loop into which may 

 be bent one end of the iron- strap. Formerly used in connec- 

 tion with the shoulder-gun. Middletown, Connecticut, 1882. 

 54334. Gift of A. R. Crittenden. Not used at present. 



Kelly's gun-harpoon. 



Head, toggle, malleable cast iron, mortised. Shank, wrought iron, 

 with collar at butt. Adjustable slide, to which is attached 

 rope-beckets. Button, rubber. Cushion-spring broken. Marked 

 a B. G. L. A. 111." (Initials of brig and number of boat). 



