[49] FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 319 



THE CALIFORNIA GUN-HARPOON. 



Head, common toggle, with flaring barb at rear, wrought iron, mor- 

 tised; shank, double; wire loop, served with twine; iron-strap 

 and eye-splice. Length, 50 inches. Length of toggle, 9|- 

 inches. San Miguel, California, 1882. 72753. Manufactured 

 and presented by George W. Proctor. Used in connection with 

 the swivel gun at the whaling stations on the coast of Califor- 

 nia, and other points on the northwest coast, for the capture 

 of the California grays, humpbacks, finbacks, and right 

 whales. 



Explosive Harpoons. 



thrust by hand. 



Barker's bomb-harpoon. 



A harpoon with an adjustable explosive lance-like head, intended 

 to be used for simultaneously "fastening to" and killing whales. 

 Length, 33 inches. Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1882. 56370. 

 Gift of D. Connell. This kind of instrument is intended to be 

 darted by hand. The resistance of the skin of the whale upon 

 the brass cross-piece draws back the discharging-wire which 

 extends parallel to the shank, causing the hammer to strike 

 upon the cap, and explodes the bomb, or head, in the whale. 

 When the whale runs, or sounds, the traction of the line upon 

 the harpoon expands the brass barb, or fluke, and prevents the 

 instrument from being withdrawn. Eeloaded by the substitu- 

 tion of a new head. Patented by Silas Barker, February 21, 

 1865. 



Freeman's bomb-harpoon. 



An instrument with an explosive head for killing whales. Consists 

 of a chambered head, or magazine, which, when loaded, con- 

 tains a charge fully equal to three-fourths of a pound of powder ; 

 a shank with a tubular head and two small rigid barbs, and 

 socket for the pole. The inside mechanism consists of a time- 

 fuse, which extends from the shank into the magazine, a nipple 

 for the percussion-cap, an actuating spring, and other appli- 

 ances for releasing the cock, which are concealed in the re- 

 cessed head of the shank. The trigger, or lever- fluke, is fast- 

 ened by a hinge-pin immediately in rear of the lance-bomb. 

 The action of the flesh as the instrument enters the whale 

 presses down the trigger, or fluke, in a line with the shank, and 

 automatically explodes and impels the head. Eeloaded by 

 substituting new heads. Length, 40£ inches. Brewster, Mas- 

 sachusetts, 1876. 42762. Made by Freeman & Lincoln. This 

 kind has been employed for killing the finback whale on the 

 coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Patented by Charles Free- 

 man, Brewster, Massachusetts, May 7, 1872. 



