FISHERIES OF WASHINGTON AND BRITISH COLUMBIA. 311 

 PURSE SEINES. 



The purse seine is, next after the trap net, the most important appli- 

 ance used for the capture of salmon in the United States waters, where 

 it is said to have been, introduced about 1886. It resembles the purse 

 seine of the Atlantic coast, but differs from it in some ijarticulars. 

 Its construction and mode of use have been described in the Bulletin 

 of the United States Fish Commission for 1888 (pp. 55,56), and in the 

 annual report of that Commission for the same year (pp. 254-256). 

 The nets are very large and therefore of great capacity, the catch often 

 amounting to several thousand salmon at a single haul. In those 

 whose measurements have been brought to our attention the length 

 varies from 150 to 250 fathoms and the depth from 11 to 25 fathoms in 

 the bunt. The mesh is from 2i to 3 inches. Two boats are required 

 for operating a purse seine — one for setting the net, the other, a scow, 

 for pursing it, the latter also having accommodations for the catch. 



Purse seines seem not to be well adapted for taking the sockeye, 

 which are apparently too alert and active to be readily captured by this 

 means, although small quantities may sometimes be so obtained. They 

 api^ear to be employed mainly for the silver salmon, but also to some 

 extent for humpbacks and dog salmon. It is the only kind of appara- 

 tus, aside from hooks and lines, that can be utilized in the open waters 

 at a distance from the shores, and as the salmon of certain species may 

 school anywhere it is destined to remain one of the most important 

 fishing methods, especially for supplying the large catches demanded 

 by the canneries. 



The most important fishery with these nets, having its principal head- 

 quarters at Seattle, has been carried on throughout the upper psbvt of 

 Puget Sound from the vicinity of Everett to Commencement Bay, and 

 to some extent in Hood's Canal. In 1895 Seattle had at least 11 purse 

 seines in use, and in 1896 probably not less than 20. Keeping track of 

 the schooling fish, many of the nets are often concentrated in a single 

 place, covering the water over a considerable area and making large 

 catches. Although chiefly operated in the interest of canneries, the 

 fresh and salt markets also obtain abundant supplies from this source. 

 Single seine hauls in the upper part of the sound frequently exceed 

 1,500, and may reach over 2,500 silver salmon. The catch of the gang 

 of nets belonging to the Seattle cannery is said to have averaged 12,000 

 salmon daily during the height of the season of 1895. 



In other parts of the region i^urse seines have not been as systemat- 

 ically employed. Some have been used about the San Juan Islands, 

 and in 1895 they were first tried in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with the 

 object of obtaining supplies for the cannery established that year at 

 Port Angeles. The fishing-ground was mainly in the vicinity of that 

 place, but sets were also made near Race Eocks and elsewhere in the 

 eastern part of the strait. About Point Roberts a few purse seines 

 seem to have been operated nearly every year since their introduction, 



