SALMON AND SALMON FISHERIES OF SWIFTSURE BANK 
729 
hauled in by means of a winch. The time necessary to reach and surround a school 
of fish was thus greatly decreased, with a corresponding increase in the efficiency of 
the seine. 
It has already been noted that purse seines became the most important type of 
gear in use on Puget Sound shortly after their introduction, and that by about 1895 
the successful development of the salmon traps had relegated them to a position of 
much less importance. The adoption of power by the purse-seine fleet, which was 
consummated by 1907, now altered this position of minor influence in the fishery to 
one of considerable consequence, lor what had been a relatively fixed type of gear 
became an extremely mobile one when the seine scows were superseded by power 
boats. This newly acquired mobility, allowing rapid shifting of operations during 
the season to any district in which salmon were abundant, has remained the outstand- 
ing characteristic of the purse-seine fishery. 
Improvements in Vessel Design 
The introduction of power was followed by a gradual but positive change in the 
type of vessels used. As the fishermen moved farther afield, the unsuitability of the 
open boat under adverse weather conditions soon became apparent, and seaworthi- 
ness became the major consideration when the seiners began fishing far out in the 
Strait of Juan de Fuca. The first improvement in design, a compromise hull partially 
decked forward, appeared shortly after power was introduced. Later vessels were 
built with a full deck, and, at the same time, their depth was increased considerably, 
providing greater carrying capacity and increasing their seaworthiness. By 1912 
most vessels were full-decked. This roving type of fishery was greatly impeded by 
the necessity of the crew sleeping ashore, and crew’s quarters were soon placed on 
board. At first a long superstructure was built, but the quarters were later arranged 
in a forecastle under a slightly raised forward deck. The wheel house and galley 
were brought forward partially over the raised deck, which afforded more deck space 
and increased the seaworthiness of the vessel. 
The speed and maneuverability of the vessels was increased considerably as 
engine efficiency improved. These developments, together with the use of larger 
seines, brought about the introduction of the “turntable” upon which the seine was 
stowed. This was a free-turning platform mounted above the gunwales of the vessel 
at the stern, and still retaining the roller at the after edge, which had been used for 
many years. The seine could be payed out freely and rapidly from this turntable 
and also stowed thereon with far greater ease than before. At about the same time 
engine power was further utilized to operate the pursing winch. This reduced the 
labor and increased the speed of pursing the nets, thus effecting an increase in their 
efficiency. 
Figure 13, which was taken before 1913, shows that the outside wheel had been 
adopted by that date. The fishing captain was thus enabled to steer the vessel while 
standing on the forward deck where he was better able to observe the fish and set the 
net. Some 10 years later this outer wheel was moved to the top of the wheel house, 
allowing still greater range of observation (see fig. 14). At about the same time a 
power drive was applied to the turntable roller, allowing the net to be gotten on 
board for stowing far more rapidly and easily than before. 
