APPENDIX. 
221 
nion from a service of twenty-two years in the fishery, is 
entitled to much respect. 
Deptford^ Dec. 18, 1821. 
“ SiK, 
“ Having been eleven years master of Green- 
land Ships, and received a premium from the Honourable 
Society of Arts and Sciences, for shooting whales, I was 
induced to come on board the Baffin, when in sight of the 
west land of Greenland, to be introduced to you, for the 
purpose of seeing your improved implements for the 
fishery, which have my fullest approbation, and are, as I 
stated to you when we met in Greenland, better adapted 
to the purposes intended, than those already known. 
When your hand-harpoon, were once well fast in a fish, 
it would from its construction, I should conceive, be impos- 
sible to draw it ; nor could the withers upset, from the com- 
bined strength given to them. 
‘‘ The harpoons to be discharged from a gun, I should 
also imagine must fiy in a true and point blank direction, 
and having the same mechanical principle, as the hand- 
harpoon must possess the like important advantages. 
“ The shell for firing into whales from a gun, is the best 
invention with which I am acquainted, for the aid of the 
fishery, for a shell bursting in the body of a fish, will, no 
doubt, instantly destroy its power ; and when used in at- 
tacking wicked fish, will be invaluable. 
You may. Sir, remember seeing the corpse of the 
boat-steerer of the Vigilant, who was killed while lancing 
a fish, not far from us ; his life, as well as that of many 
others I have known, would have certainly been saved by 
such means. 
I am. Sir, 
Your most obedient humble servant, 
ROBERT HAYS, 
Lute Master of the Ship Experiment." 
To Captain Manby.” 
