204 
APPENDIX. 
their going freely into the caliber of the piece ; the 
withers were of iron, highly tempered to give them the 
most resisting strength. 
It is here necessary to observe, that, in the construc- 
tion of the harpoons in use, the greatest attention is paid 
to making those instruments of the softest and most 
pliable iron, to prevent the liability of that important 
part, the shank, breaking, and to admit of its twisting, 
or. bending readily ; for which purpose, the harpoons un- 
dergo the process of softening, by very gradual or pro- 
tracted cooling ; a process, which, however advantageous 
to render the shank yielding, must no doubt be injurious 
to the withers, to which cause, it is probable that the 
bending or upsetting of the withers of many is to be as- 
cribed. 
This is completely obviated in the harpoon shown above, 
for the withers being detached, admit of the most powerful 
hardening, and the combined lockings, when united, 
supply it with all the strength that can be required. 
The harpoon is given below with its conical end, and 
screw point, prepared to enter into the wooden cap, 
which is hollowed out to receive that extremity. 
The worm, of the screw entering into the wood, firmly 
secures it to the harpoon, and forms one compact body. 
The design of the cap is to remove the loss of that power 
that would otherwise be caused, by leaving a space between 
the gunpowder and the point of the instrument. It also 
keeps the harpoon centrifugally in the gun to receive the 
