Record 5/46 |
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Description
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| Whaling lance used for killing the whale after it has been harpooned. It has an iron shank with a socket at one end, fitted to a wooden pole with rope attached. The blade of the lance is oval, with a sharp cutting edge all round. There are letters on each side of the point; HS on both sides. "The hand lance, known as the killing iron, was the implement used to kill a whale... it was plunged into the whale in the area of its 'life' the large areas of oxygenated blood in reserve for long dives.... the lance consisted of an iron shank, five to six feet long, with a standard socket at one end for mounting to a pole. The blade of the lance was oval, or petal-shaped, approximately five inches long and two inches wide, and it was razor sharp on all edges. It was designed to be withdrawn and used repeatedly." [Reference: collectionsonline@tepapa.govt.nz] Early Marlborough whalers of the 1820s included American whalers with American equipment like this. |
Lance
-Whales
-Copyright Marlborough Museum - Marlborough Historical Society Inc
When using this image please quote "Image courtesy of Marlborough Museum - Marlborough Historical Society Inc"
| 1956.015.0001 |
When using this image please quote "Image courtesy of Marlborough Museum - Marlborough Historical Society Inc"