56 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
have three thwarts, adapted for two men rowing at each. About 8 feet of the after 
part of the boat is decked over, and upon this deck the seine is stowed. The method 
of stowing and throwing the seine differs somewhat from that followed in the mackerel 
fishery. The salmon seine being thrown over the stern of the boat, it has to be stowed 
fore and aft instead of athwartship. The corks are placed on the port side, the twine 
on the starboard side. The twine is thrown in a heap, not arranged neatly in “flakes” 
and “ bits,” as upon a mackerel boat, because the man who throws it is not particular 
to have it clear the stern so as not to retard the speed of the boat in going around a 
school. The result is that the oarsmen have an extra amount of work to perform. 
The scow upon which most of the work is done, and which is considered indispen- 
sable in setting the seine, is 20 feet long by 8 wide, and at each end of it is an iron winch. 
These winches are used for the pursing up, the seine being pursed from the scow. 
There is a wooden purse davit, which is stepped into the side of the scow, and to 
which are attached two 3 inch wooden blocks, the purse line leading from them to the 
winches at either end. Eleven to fourteen men are required to set the seine — six at 
the oars, two at the seine, and two on the scow. Of those at the seine, one throws 
the corks, the other the twine. 
The cost of a salmon seine, boat, and scow is from $1,200 to $1,300. 
Method of fishing with the purse seine . — Starting upon a fishing trip, the boat, with 
its scow in tow, is rowed to a favorable locality where salmon are likely to occur, 
and, having anchored the scow, a lookout is kept for fish. As soon as a school is 
sighted the boat is shoved off, leaving one end of the seine attached to the scow. A 
circle is made around the fish, the boat returning again to the scow, when all hands 
jump aboard of it and commence to haul in on the twine and corks, two men standing 
at the winches and slowly taking in the slack on the purse line. It is not, however, 
until half the length of the seine has been pulled in that they begin to purse up in 
earnest. At this time the anchor rope is slacked off, and, all hands laying hold of the 
purse line, purse the scow into the middle of the seine. Were this done in the begin- 
ning, much hard labor could be saved. Time and labor would also be economized by 
slacking the anchor rope while the first half of the seine is being hauled in, instead of 
which the seine is hauled bodily through the water. 
During the slow process of pursing a man stands at the davit with a long pole, 
having a block of wood called a “ plunger” fastened to it. This is kept working up 
and down between the purse lines, for the purpose of frightening the fish away from 
the center of the net; and it is, no doubt, very effective in saving the school, as the 
bottom of the seine is left open from twenty-five to forty minutes, which is ample time 
for a salmon to find its way out. 
From an hour and a half to two hours are required for setting, pursing up, and 
stowing the seine ready for another trial. On two occasions, when the operations were 
timed, they consumed on an average one hour and forty-five minutes. The result of 
both sets was fifty-odd salmon. As many as two thousand salmon were taken in this 
manner off Seattle at a single haul during 1886, but no such captures have been made 
since that year. Later in 1888 than the time of the above observations salmon became 
more abundant in the vicinity of Seattle. 
Prices paid for salmon . — The fishermen receive from the canneries 25 cents for 
large and 10 cents for small salmon. Toward the latter part of the season prices are 
reduced. The proceeds of a sale are divided equally among the crew. The boats, 
