PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. j 79 
thus making a tackle for the more convenient manipulation of the 
net. The dip-net fishermen of the Columbia River use this net, 
which derives its name from the fact that it used to be commonly 
operated by Indian squaws for taking salmon. But few are now 
in use, for the same reasons as given for the decline in the use of 
dip nets. 
PURSE SEINES. 
This form of apparatus is in quite general use in Puget Sound 
and southeast Alaska, and has proved highly effective in these deep, 
swift waters. These seines are about 200 fathoms long, 25 fathoms in 
the bunt, and 20 fathoms in the wings, all with a 32-inch stretch mesh. 
The foot line is heavily leaded and the bridles are about 10 feet long. 
The purse line is made of 14-inch hemp. The rings through which 
the purse line is rove measure about 5 inches in diameter and are 
made of galvanized iron. 
Purse seiming for.salmon in Puget Sound and waters north of same 
is one of the most important methods in use in the fisheries. In the 
type of vessel used in this fishery there has probably been greater 
improvement than in any other branch of the fisheries of the coast. 
In the early days row scows were in use, but now vessels with power 
are used. 
In 1903 the first gasoline-powered purse seine boat appeared on the 
Pacific coast salmon fishing grounds in Puget Sound. The vessel was 
named the Pioneer and she was equipped with a 5-horsepower 
engine. The first season she easily demonstrated her vast superi- 
ority over the other purse seimers in the quickness with which she 
could reach a school of fish after it was sighted and in surrounding it 
with her seine. The next year there were a few more built or © 
equipped, and the number has steadily increased until at the present 
time practically all except a few in southeast Alaska are equipped 
with motor engines. 
The first power seine boats were only about 30 feet in length and 
had small power. As they were few in numbers, there was virtu- 
ally no competition, and high power and speed were not a necessity. 
As the boats increased in numbers, however, competition became 
keener, and the first types of boats with their small power were 
quickly thrown into the shade by the newer types, which averaged 
between 45 and 55 feet in length, with 45 to 75 horsepower engines. 
When motive power was introduced in the vessels, it was natural 
that the fishermen should soon introduce winches for the purpose of 
hauling in the nets, as the whole work could then be done by the one 
engine. 
The purse seine vessels are built with rounded sterns. On an 
elevated section of the stern is set a movable platform on a pivot. 
