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APPENDIX. 
port, or, if it be moving with speed, may have passed, be- 
fore the fall of the harpoon. 
To shew that these objections are not merely theoreti- 
cal, I add the observations of Captain Sanderson, of the 
ship Enterprise, of Lynn, a gentleman of great ability, and 
possessed of an experience of twenty years on the subject. 
“ In a calm, the fish are often numerous and playing 
about, but will not allow themselves to be approached 
near enough to be struck by the hand ; therefore, if a lock 
that will not miss fire and a gun to carry a harpoon that will 
not draw, and will go point blank at thirty yards, can he 
constructed, the invention would be an invaluable acquisi- 
tion, as hundreds of fish would then certainly be taken 
which cannot now be approached. These qualities in a 
gun-harpoon would do away every obstacle to the complete 
success of the Whale-Fishery.” 
I am not without confidence, that I have attained that 
which Captain Sanderson points out as all that is necessary 
to ensure certain success in this important branch of com- 
merce. I trust that I have invented a substitute for the 
gun-harpoon, the point blank of which will be uptvards of 
thirty yards, and the construction of which, by a mecha- 
nical combination to produce strength, will effectually pre- 
vent its retraction ; while it shall be sure to fly with its point 
directly foremost, and make a wound not so large as its own 
breadth, and be prevented taking a bad position in the fish. 
This will be discharged from a gun, not liable to miss fire, even 
in the most boisterous weather, when properly attended 
to. I have reason to believe too, that the substitute which 
I propose for the harpoon will be discharged with a force 
that will enable it to pierce the intestines of the fish, (the 
sensitive seat of its energy and vitality) thereby depriving 
it of the power of making those violent exertions which 
cause great difficulty in securing it, and often endanger the 
lives of those engaged in the pursuit. 
