One flue harpoon
Encyclopedia
The one flue harpoon or one flue iron (sometimes "single" instead of "one" is used) is a type of harpoon
used in whaling
after its introduction in the early 19th century when it replaced the two flue harpoon
. Due to the asymmetric
design of the head for which it is named, the one flue harpoon was less likely to cut its way out of the whale
meat and blubber
, and was therefore more successful in whaling.
In the mid-19th century the one flue harpoon was replaced by the toggling harpoon
, which was an iron version of the ancient design used in the Arctic
by the native whale hunters there. The toggling iron harpoon was even more successful and rapidly phased out the use of the "common harpoon" (a term which refers to either the one or two flue harpoon).
Harpoon
A harpoon is a long spear-like instrument used in fishing to catch fish or large marine mammals such as whales. It accomplishes this task by impaling the target animal, allowing the fishermen to use a rope or chain attached to the butt of the projectile to catch the animal...
used in whaling
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
after its introduction in the early 19th century when it replaced the two flue harpoon
Two flue harpoon
The two flue harpoon or two flue iron is a type of harpoon used in whaling for at least 1000 years. It appears in works of art dating back to the 14th century....
. Due to the asymmetric
Asymmetry
Asymmetry is the absence of, or a violation of, symmetry.-In organisms:Due to how cells divide in organisms, asymmetry in organisms is fairly usual in at least one dimension, with biological symmetry also being common in at least one dimension....
design of the head for which it is named, the one flue harpoon was less likely to cut its way out of the whale
Whale
Whale is the common name for various marine mammals of the order Cetacea. The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises, which belong to suborder Odontoceti . This suborder also includes the sperm whale, killer whale, pilot whale, and beluga...
meat and blubber
Blubber
Blubber is a thick layer of vascularized adipose tissue found under the skin of all cetaceans, pinnipeds and sirenians.-Description:Lipid-rich, collagen fiber–laced blubber comprises the hypodermis and covers the whole body, except for parts of the appendages, strongly attached to the musculature...
, and was therefore more successful in whaling.
In the mid-19th century the one flue harpoon was replaced by the toggling harpoon
Toggling harpoon
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...
, which was an iron version of the ancient design used in the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
by the native whale hunters there. The toggling iron harpoon was even more successful and rapidly phased out the use of the "common harpoon" (a term which refers to either the one or two flue harpoon).