HARPOON

The harpoon, which is sometimes called the harpin-iron, is furnished with a long staff, having at one end a broad and flat triangular head sharpened both edges, so as to penetrate the whale with facility: to the head of this weapon is fastened a long cord, called the whale-line, which lies carefully coiled in the boat, in such a manner, as to run out without being interrupted or intangled. As soon as the boat has rowed within a competent distance of the whale, the harpooner launches his instrument; and the fish, being wounded, immediately descends under the ice with amazing rapidity carrying the harpoon along with him, and a considerable length of the line. Being soon exhausted with the fatigue and loss of blood, he re-ascends in order to breathe, where he presently expires, and floats upon the surface of the water, when they approach the carcase by drawing in the whale-line.

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