APPENDIX. 
219 
blank direction, the small orifice which it makes, and its 
power of retention whenever it penetrates. 
“ Capt. Manby's idea of aflTording a method of destroying 
whales by shells and carcasses thrown from a gun, seems 
to be quite original, and promises, if the shells have power 
of penetration sufficient, to be an admirable auxiliary 
means of capturing whales : for attacking 
fish at the edge of packs, finners, razor backs, &c., these 
destructive Implements might be of uncommon service. 
There can be little doubt that a shell, exploding among 
the viscera of a fish, would produce instant paralysis ; this 
being the case, fish might then be attacked without hazard 
at packs, or in a sea, or amid bay ice ; when, in the 
ordinary way, they could not be struck without the most 
imminent risk of the loss of lines and materials, while the 
chance of succeeding in the capture is small. Such are 
Captain Manby’s inventions : they are the result of a 
persevering, thinking and comprehensive mind : a mind 
devoted to philanthropic objects, and to the public good.” 
The shells were of cast-iron in an oblong form, IJ 
diameter in length ; the fuzes were of brass having a 
strong thread, to screw them securely into the mouth of 
the shell, in which was cut a female screw to receive it : 
the fuze was driven with powder (of the strongest qua- 
lity) mealed, and the length graduated to burn as nearly 
one second as possible, and the head was pierced with four 
holes for pieces of quick match drawn through them, to 
ensure the fuze igniting from the flash of the gun. 
The carcasses were of similar form to the shells, 
with a mtich larger mouth (where was also cut a female 
screw,) to receive pieces of an unextinguishable composi*- 
tion which generated a gas destructive to vitality ; the 
mouth was closed by a screw to prevent the pieces of 
composition being blown out : and in the sides were 
holes (filled up with mealed powder moistened with spirits 
