728 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
tional number were issued in the later summer or fall. For convenience, the first 
group of licenses will hereafter be designated as “summer licenses,” and the second 
group as “fall licenses” (see table 11). Although somewhat obscured by a general 
increase, the odd-numbered years show a larger number of licenses than do the even- 
numbered years. This is largely due to the greater availability in those years of the 
pink salmon, which by this time could be marketed in sufficient quantity to encourage 
their pursuit by the seine fleet. 
Table 11. — Puget Sound purse-seine licenses, 1897-1915 
Year 
Summer 
Fall 
Total 
Year 
Total 
1897 
34 
13 
47 
1907 
64 
1S98 
31 
9 
40 
1908 
69 
1899 
58 
14 
72 
1909. 
95 
1900 
41 
16 
57 
1910 
120 
1901 
45 
22 
67 
1911 
133 
1902 - 
59 
19 
78 
1912 
169 
1903 _ 
79 
8 
87 
1913 
252 
1904 
53 
19 
72 
1914 
288 
1905 
73 
18 
91 
1915 
308 
1906 
73 
6 
78 
DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN PURSE-SEINE VESSEL 
Introduction of Power 
Perhaps the most important single factor which influenced the development of 
the purse-seine fishery was tbe introduction of the internal-combustion engine for 
fishing vessels. The Pacific Fisherman Yearbook for 1919 states that the first gaso- 
line-powered boat on Puget Sound, exclusively engaged in the fishing industry, was a 
32-foot fish carrier, the Silverside, built in Tacoma about 1898 for T. E. Eggers, a 
pioneer operator of that city. In a few years the success of power in other fishing 
vessels encouraged the purse seiners to take advantage of this new development. 
The complete change of the purse-seine fleet from oars to power was accomplished 
n a very few years. The Pacific Fisherman Annual Review for 1910 states: 
Skansie Brothers of Gig Harbor, pioneers in the use of gas engines, have ordered two new boats. 
They started six years ago (1904) with one boat powered with a 7 hp. “Frisco Standard”. They 
have since bought 15 more. 
The same publication, in the issue of 1907, includes in the caption of a picture of 
a power seiner the statement: 
Gasoline power is now universally used in seine boats. 
From these statements we may conclude that the change to power in the seine fleet 
was completed in but little more than 3 years. 
This change to power necessitated a revision of purse-seine fishing methods. 
The scow was replaced with a small open power boat and, although the skiff was 
retained, its function was reversed. The seine was now carried in the after part of 
the power boat. In setting, one end was made fast to the skiff while the seine boat 
circled the school of fish and payed out the net. The end of the net which had been 
made fast to the skiff was now brought aboard the seine boat and the purse line 
