21 ^ 
APPENDIX. 
tQ direct its operations; I could thus obtain opinions, 
upon the spot, of the instrument from masters of ships, 
best qualified to judge of their merits ; I could observe ^vith 
scrutinizing attention, how the business was carried on, 
and whether the implements were adequate to their pur- 
pose ; and by attentive observation, I could also investigate 
the cause of the prejudice against the permanent intro- 
duction of the gun ; and by learning whether any part of 
the system was injurious to the interest of those most con- 
cerned in the fishery, might be enabled faithfully to report 
the fact to them. 
To Captain Scoresby, Commander of the Baffin belong- 
ing to Liverpool, from his distinguished experience in the 
Northern Whale Fishery, and profound scientific knowledge, 
I applied for a passage in his ship, and he most readily 
acceded to my views, by an invitation to accompany him ; 
and I lost no time in perfecting such improvements in the 
gun and hand harpoon, as appeared requisite, for the more 
effectual taking of whales ; as well as in the shells and 
carcasses intended to lessen the torture that often attends 
the present method of killing fish, I considered it due to 
humanity, that their sufferings should be terminated as 
speedily as possible^; and it was likewise a primary 
object to determine, whether the shells were sufficiently 
effective to remove the hazard, often attendant on the 
service of lancing vicious or dangerous fish. 
On getting to sea, as soon as leisure permitted, my 
inventions were submitted to Captain Scoresby, and their 
several intentions explained in the presence of the har- 
* I have had communicated to me instances of a fish, having 
10, 12, and more harpoons in it, and of every stratagem being 
used to irritate the wounds, in order to produce pain, and facilitate 
its death ; yet the fish has endured the agony of these goadings 
for many hours. 
