88 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBEEGEN. 
forward in the broad bow, there is a bollard or short 
post fixed firmly to the stem. This is in a line with, 
the notch in the bows, round which the harpooner 
takes a turn of the line when fast in the whale ; 
another, iron-bound, to carry the swivel-gun of one 
and a-half inch bore, strong enough to throw a har¬ 
poon of ten pounds weight a distance of twenty yards 
with perfect accuracy. This support is firmly fixed to 
the keel, the bollard being twisted to enable the run¬ 
ning bollard to pass a little to its left. 
Then there are the lances, and harpoons of various 
kinds; one harpoon head having the handle firmly 
fixed, to which the line is secured ; another has the 
handle made to disengage itself when the harpoon, to 
which the line is attached, is firmly planted in the 
hide. The former is used for whale fishing, the latter 
for striking seals and walrus. 
There are besides lances of most formidable propor¬ 
tions, mounted upon long shafts, to strike at the 
wounded whale when he returns to the surface after 
his dive of some forty minutes’ duration. These 
weapons rest securely on a suitable receptacle. The 
oars ply upon well-greased matting, and, owing to 
this simple arrangement, the boats are propelled 
without the least noise to disturb the floating 
monsters. 
