The harpoon can be used in different ways thrown, fired.  The harpoon is known to be used to hunt water animals mostly whale and fish.  The harpoon can also be known as a spear.

A harpoon has sharp barbs that stick into its target and keep hold of said target you have a rope tied to the back most of the time if not all so you can keep hold of or even pull what you have harpooned back to you.   The harpoon has been used for a long time by many different people and made from more then just iron.  They are well known for whaling mostly and well known for being used in the past to kill and hunt whales. The harpoon is mostly known for killing large sea animals such as sword fish.

Related stories

https://www.britannica.com/technology/harpoon-spear

https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_844151