SWORDFISH 



Pacific. However various the modifications may 

 have been, the similarity of the different shapes is 

 no less noteworthy from the fact that all are pecul- 

 iarly American. In the enormous collection of fish- 

 ery implements of all lands at the late exhibition at 

 Berlin, nothing of the kind could be found. What 

 is known to whalers as a toggle-harpoon is a modi- 

 fication of the lily-iron, but so greatly changed by 

 the addition of a pivot by which the head of the 

 harpoon is fastened to the shank that it can hardly 

 be regarded as the same weapon. The lily-iron is, 

 in principle, exactly what a whaleman would de- 

 scribe by the word "toggle." It consists of a two- 

 pointed piece of metal, having in the center, at one 

 side, a ring or socket the axis of which is parallel 

 with the long diameter of the implement. In this 

 is inserted the end of the pole-shank, and to it or 

 near it is also attached the harpoon-line. When the 

 iron has once been thrust point first through some 

 solid substance, such as the side of a fish, and is 

 released upon the other side by the withdrawal of 

 the pole from the socket, it is free, and at once 

 turns its long axis at right angle to the direction 

 in which the harpoon-line is pulling, and this is 

 absolutely prevented from withdrawal. The prin- 

 ciple of the whale harpoon or toggle-iron is similar, 

 except that the pole is not withdrawn, and the head, 

 turning upon a pivot at its end, fastens the pole 

 itself securely to the fish, the harpoon-line being 

 attached to some part of the pole. The swordfish 

 lily-iron head, as now ordinarily used, is about four 

 inches in length, and consists of two lanceloate 

 blades, each about an inch and a half long, connected 



169 



