Harpoons have a wide distribution throughout the world, but it is among the Inuit that the most complex pre-industrial forms were developed. 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 harpoon was used for fish as well. [The various styles of harpoons used in the Canadian Arctic from Prehistoric, Independence I, Pre-Dorset, early Dorset, late Dorset and Thule are described.]