Harpoon facts for kids
A harpoon is a long, spear-like tool. People use it mainly for fishing. It helps catch large fish or sea animals. These include whales and seals. A harpoon works by sticking into the animal. A rope or chain is tied to the harpoon. This lets the hunter pull the animal in. Harpoons can also be used as a weapon.
Most fishing harpoons have special hooks. These are called barbs. They point backwards. Barbs help stop the animal from getting away.
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What is a Harpoon?
A harpoon is a type of projectile weapon. It is designed to be thrown or launched. Its main purpose is to hunt large aquatic animals. This includes big fish, seals, and whales. The word "harpoon" comes from a French word. It means "to grapple" or "to seize."
How Harpoons Work
A harpoon usually has a sharp point. This point is made to pierce an animal's skin. After it goes in, the barbs hold it firmly. A strong rope is attached to the harpoon. This rope connects the harpoon to the boat or hunter. Once the harpoon hits the animal, the hunter can pull it in. This makes catching large animals much easier.
Some harpoons have detachable heads. The head separates from the shaft. This allows the head to stay in the animal. The rope is then pulled from the head. This design helps prevent the animal from breaking free.
Harpoons Through History
People have used harpoons for thousands of years. Early harpoons were made from bone, antler, or wood. They were important tools for survival. Ancient people used them to hunt large sea animals. These animals provided food, oil, and materials.
Ancient Harpoons
The oldest known harpoons are very old. Some date back to the Stone Age. This was about 15,000 to 12,000 years ago. These early tools show how clever ancient humans were. They found ways to hunt big animals. This was important for their communities.
Modern Harpoons
Over time, harpoons changed. They became stronger and more effective. In the 19th and 20th centuries, whaling became a big industry. Harpoons became very important for whale hunting. Some modern harpoons use explosives. These are called "bomb lance harpoons." They are designed to kill large whales quickly. Today, many countries have rules about whaling. This is to protect whale populations.
Types of Harpoons
There are many different kinds of harpoons. Each type is designed for a specific use.
Hand-thrown Harpoons
These are the oldest type. Hunters throw them by hand. They need skill and strength. They are still used by some traditional fishing communities.
Gun-fired Harpoons
These harpoons are shot from a special gun. The gun is often mounted on a boat. This allows hunters to hit targets from farther away. It also gives more power to the shot. These are common in modern whaling.
Fishing Harpoons
Many smaller harpoons are used for regular fishing. They are lighter and easier to handle. They are used to catch large fish like tuna or swordfish. Some divers use small harpoons for spearfishing.
Images for kids
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Unaaq ᐅᓈᖅ, a harpoon used by Inuit, 172 cm (5.6 feet) long, MHNT
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Epipaleolithic Azilian harpoon, 12,000 to 9,000 years old, from Mas d'Azil cave, France
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"Manner in which Natives of the East Coast strike turtle." Near Cooktown, Australia. From Phillip Parker King's Survey. 1818.
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Harpoons used in the whale fishery, 1887, including new design from Provincetown whalemen
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Bomb lance whaling harpoon, pictured in 1878, prominent in the famous whaling legal case, Ghen v. Rich
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Harpoon mounted on a whaling boat in Alaska, ca. 1915
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Modern whaling harpoon
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