230 
THE FIN WHALE FISHERY IN NORTH LAPLAND. Oct., 1889. 
The vessels employed in the chase are small iron steamers 
of about eighty tons, with horse-power varying up to thirty- 
five or more. They are mostly about 80ft. long, though 
there is considerable variety in the dimensions, &c. They 
are good sea boats, and will stand a heavy sea, though they 
are washed over and over in even a moderate swell. The 
engine room is placed amidships, and there are two small 
masts. The foremost carries the “crow’s nest,” from which 
the harpooner keeps his look-out; it also carries the 
“accumulator” or relieving tackle, of which more anon. 
Each whaler is furnished with two to three small boats. In 
the extreme bows is situated a small cannon for firing the 
harpoon. This cannon is short and very thick, being often 
as much as 4J- inches thick at the muzzle ; its weight is 
usually about locwt., and it works upon a pivot, which allows 
of a horizontal rotary motion, and upon trunnions, which 
give a vertical play. There is a kind of pistol-stock handle 
held by the harpooner, who can thus aim in any direction 
with considerable rapidity, there being only a few pounds 
resistance to overcome. The charge is about Jib. of powder, 
and the gun is fired usually by pulling a string, the recoil 
being minimised by means of indiarubber cushions behind 
the trunnions. Jutting out ahead of the gun, over the stem 
of the vessel, is a small platform, on which the harpooner 
can stand if necessary, and upon which part of the line is 
coiled, so as to run out easily when the gun is fired. The 
range is short (roughly speaking, about 12-13 yards). 
Much interest, of course, centres round the harpoon, 
which is truly a most deadly weapon. I was fortunate in 
having presented to me one of the earliest patterns of this 
weapon, dating back to the commencement of Svend Foyn’s 
experiments in improving the gun-liarpoon. It is interesting 
to compare this with the modern form, which is a far more 
formidable weapon. This old harpoon is made entirely of 
iron, and is divided into three principal parts : (a) The head, 
which is comparatively large, and of pyramidal shape, with 
slightly concave sides. This is hollow inside, so as to con¬ 
tain a charge of gunpowder ; the point is perforated and 
communicates with the chamber by means of a duct, which 
contains the fuse by which the charge was exploded when 
the head was buried in the whale’s body. The head is 
screwed on to a worm at the end of ( b ) the lower part of the 
stock. This is rounded and thick, and carries two pairs of 
good-sized barbs, which work upon pivots at their bases, so 
as to lie close to the stock, and only open out when resist¬ 
ance is offered to a backward strain. This portion is also 
