How does a toggling harpoon work?
This toggle harpoon head, which works by detaching from the shaft of the harpoon once it is stuck in an animal while remaining attached to the shaft by a rope, facilitated the hunting of larger animals at sea.
How did the Inuit use harpoons?
The primary use of the Inuit harpoon was for hunting sea mammals, both at breathing holes in the sea ice and in open water, although in some arctic areas the har- poon was used for fish as well.
What is a seal harpoon?
This short harpoon was specifically designed for killing seals at their breathing holes. The basic parts of a harpoon are the detachable head, foreshaft, socket piece, wooden shaft, and harpoon line. Toggling heads were made of bone, ivory, or antler, with a slot at the end to hold a thin stone or metal blade.
Who invented the toggling harpoon?
Lewis Temple
Lewis Temple was the inventor of a whaling harpoon, known as “Temple’s Toggle” and “Temple’s Iron” that became the standard harpoon of the whaling industry in the middle of the 19th century.
Who made the first harpoon?
Lewis Temple was the inventor of a whaling harpoon, known as “Temple’s Toggle” and “Temple’s Iron” that became the standard harpoon of the whaling industry in the middle of the 19th century. Lewis Temple was a skilled blacksmith, not a whaler. He had never even been to sea.
What is a harpoon made of?
The hand-thrown harpoon has two sets of sharp barbs and is made in two parts, the lily iron, about 5 inches (13 centimetres) long, which contains the barbs, and a shaft about 18 in.
What tools do Inuits use?
The Inuit used a variety of different tools to aid them in the hunting, cooking, and skinning of animals. This included spears, harpoons, arrows, bows, knives, ulus,traps, nets, hooks, pestles, and the pump drill.
Did the Inuit invent the harpoon?
This bone harpoon head was made by Alaskan Inuit. It was originally attached onto a stick to form the harpoon. As soon as it hit a seal or a walrus, the head would spring loose.
What is a harpoon instrument?
A harpoon is a long spear-like instrument and tool used in fishing, whaling, sealing, and other marine hunting to catch large fish or marine mammals such as whales.
When did Lewis Temple get married?
June 20, 1829
Lewis Temple was born in Richmond Virginia, but it is unclear whether he was born free or born a slave. Upon arriving in New Bedford in 1829, Temple took up work as a blacksmith and married Mary Clark of Maryland on June 20, 1829.
What is a toggling harpoon?
Modern Inuit toggling harpoon head used for seal hunting. Off the harpoon handle. The toggling harpoon is an ancient weapon and tool used in whaling to impale a whale when thrown. Unlike earlier harpoon versions which had only one point, a toggling harpoon has a two-part point.
How does a harpoon get attached to the animal?
After the hunter hit the sea mammal, the harpoon head then detached from the harpoon, and toggled, or turned under the animal’s skin so it wouldn’t slide out. The harpoon head was attached to the harpoon by a 3 foot line and the harpoon was attached to the boat by another 45 foot line.
What does a harpoon pattern look like?
The pattern is made of four pieces: The animal’s body, a square or round piece of cardboard with a 1.5 inches diameter hole. Two identical pieces representing the sides of the harpoon head, roughly triangular in shape, slightly curved on the long (hypotenuse) side, the next longest side being 5.5 inches long, and the toggle end being 3 inches long.
What is the end of a harpoon called?
At the end of the harpoon, was a bone, ivory, stone, or (later) a metal tip, as to better pierce the thick hide of the animal. After the hunter hit the sea mammal, the harpoon head then detached from the harpoon, and toggled, or turned under the animal’s skin so it wouldn’t slide out.