SALMON AND SALMON FISHERIES OF SWIFTSIJRE BANK 
733 
Size of Cape Seine Fleet 
The purse-seine fishery in the waters ofF Cape Flattery and in the vicinity of Swift- 
sure Bank, which has long been called the “cape” fishery in this region, experienced a 
development similar to that of Puget Sound. For years the cape fleet has consisted 
of the larger vessels of the 
Puget Sound fleet, which 
fished there before the 
salmon runs began in inside 
waters, together with a few 
large vessels which have 
proceeded to other fisheries 
when the season was over. 
During the years im- 
mediately following its de- 
velopment, tremendous 
catches encouraged many 
seiners to engage in this 
fishery. Most of the catch, 
however, consisted of im- 
mature fish which spoiled 
quickly, and the refusal of 
the canneries to accept 
them reduced the size of 
the cape fleet. This situ- 
ation was met temporarily 
by butchering the fish at 
Neah Bay, and by icing the 
catches. Somewhat later 
the canners employed a 
fleet of fast tenders or “buy- 
ing-boats”, to which the 
seiners transferred their 
catches, and which then 
returned immediately to 
the canneries. This not 
only enabled the seine boats 
to remain at sea for longer 
periods of time, but insured 
the delivery of the fish ashore soon after they were caught. This development again 
encouraged the increase of the fleet. 
Since this fishery was conducted in waters outside the jurisdiction of the State of 
Washington, the vessels were not licensed and no record is available of the size of the 
annual fleets. Gilbert (1913) reported 22 vessels fishing at the cape in 1911, and more 
than 100 in 1912. Data furnished by the major part of the fishing companies in the 
region, which include the greater part of the landings from the cape, are quite complete 
Figure 15. — Changes in numbers and efficiency of the Puget Sound purse-seine fleets. 
The early increase in size of the fleets, the decrease following the World War, and the 
increase during recent years may be seen, together with the general rise in efficiency 
throughout. 
