New book reveals the history and ephemera of salmon canneries. The cannery at the river mouth became known as lockanok and the other cannery, feet upstream on the kvichak river, was called hallerville, in honor of j. Book chronicles history of southeast salmon canneries. New book chronicles history of bumble bee canneries. In the spring of 1962 when i was 11, my father, elden metzger, announced to the family that he would be going fishing with his brother, wayland, for the salmon. Alaska fish traps 6 the first salmon canneries were built in 1878 in sitka and klawock. The alaska historic canneries initiative was created in 2014 to document, preserve, and celebrate the history of alaskas commercial fish processing plants, and better understand the role the seafood industry played in the growth and development of our state. In 1880, just two years after the establishment of alaska s first two salmon canneries, two fishing establishments were located on kodiak island. The legend of waterfall resort alaska started more than a century ago, when commercial fishing pioneers founded waterfall cannery near a natural waterfall amid 52 acres of rugged wilderness on prince of wales island. Canneries elsewhere, especially in astoria, continued to operate for several decades, partly by diversifying to can bottom fish, tuna, and crab along with salmon. New book packed with history of southeast salmon canneries kfsk. Sep 29, 2016 the last of the early 20th century salmon canneries on the southcentral alaska road system is being torn down. Macdonald, chronological history of salmon canneries in central alaska, alaska fisheries board annual report 3 1951, 78.
One of the first salmon canneries to open in alaska incited a riot before the ship had even offloaded a single tin can. The illustrations in the book are going to be killer. New book chronicles history of alaska s salmon traps. Kukak cannery archeological historic district, katmai national park and preserve, alaska. Mar 23, 2020 the nn cannery project is a collaborative partnership between tundra vision, alaska association for historic preservation, the alaska state museum, trident seafoods, and local bristol bay groups aimed at preserving the important history of more than a century of cannery lives.
Summary the alaska packers association records document the history of one of the most dominant forces in the commercial fishing industry in alaska and the puget sound from the late nineteenth through the late twentieth century. History, culture, politics ebook written by maria shaa tlaa williams, robin kirk, orin starn. At the time of european contact by the russian explorers, the area was populated by alaska native groups. Early industry, industrial revolution, labor history, and racial strife. Aug 15, 2019 many history books have focused on the philippines and its ties to many places. As the industry later expanded, the apa emerged as the largest salmon packer in alaska with canneries that stretched from bristol bay, chignik, karluk, cook inlet, and the southeast alaska panhandle. Storied shores a history of canneries in southeast alaska. The commercial salmon canneries had their main origins in california, and in the northwest of the us, particularly on the columbia river. This cannery is a direct link to a large part of alaskas past the salmon canning days. A friend of mine was involved in the old waterfall cannery and is now writing a book about its history. New book reveals the history and ephemera of salmon canneries in southeast alaska sheli delaney, ktoo june 7, 2019 juneau afternoon host sheli delaney sat down with the editor of the newlypublished book tin can country.
Within a few years, each of the hume brothers had his own cannery. Alaskas heritage alaska history and cultural studies. At larsen bay, a cannery where the tenacious rhythm of salmon season holds sway. The first salmon cannery in british columbia began operating on the fraser river in 1867. Also includes historic articles, advertisements, etc. Since its establishment in 1881, haines has grown, at times contracting and then expanding and above all, reflecting the many events that affected the towns life. Alaska salmon cannery jobs working in a cannery in alaska is a great way to get started in the alaska fishing industry. The bulk of the records span from 1890 through 1974, documenting the growth of the industry, its technological and. The scandinavian cannery at nushagak in western alaska opened in 1885. Anjuli grantham, editor, and bob king, contributor, discuss the new book, tin can country. Its a coffee table size book with hofstads colorful and historic collection of salmon can labels throughout.
Southeast alaskas historic salmon canneries, drives home the strong bonds between the great state of the north and the pacific northwest. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. History, culture, politics the world readers kindle edition by williams, maria shaa tlaa, maria shaa tlaa williams. Apr 29, 2019 around a century and a half of history told through the ups and downs of the salmon canning industry in southeast alaska is the focus of a new book due to be released in may. As has become a common practice for industries under attack in alaska, the canning industry of alaska took out large 14 page ads in local newspapers to explain their side of the controversy. Ketchikan, alaska historic cannery, seafood sampling. Of great value to anyone interested in canning history is the eight page salmon cannery chronology compiled by lewis mcdonald in 1949 which notes that 4 canneries were built between 1878 and 1949, 65 burned down and were not rebuilt. The success of canneries in alaska begins in sacramento with the great gold rush of 1849 in california.
Sep 06, 2018 bristol bay just came off an historic salmon harvest. Experience the salmon capital of the world on a sightseeing cruise featuring wildlife viewing and a taste of locally caught alaska seafood delicacies at a historic cannery. Seafood industry researchers to casual history buffs will use and enjoy tin can country southeast alaskas historic salmon canneries. New book reveals the history and ephemera of salmon. Two years later, kodiak islands first salmon cannery the smith and hirsh cannery was opened at salmon rich karluk. With a population of about 680, naknek is situated on kvichak bay, an arm of bristol bay.
New book chronicles history of alaska s salmon traps back in the 1950s, alaska s bid for statehood was spurred in part by a fight over fish traps. A classic view of fort seward, haines, alaska taken from picture point. Working in a cannery in alaska is a great way to get started in the alaska fishing industry. The north pacific seafoods red salmon plant is located on the naknek river in the village of naknek, alaska. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the alaska native reader. Southeast alaskas historic salmon canneries, with a copy of the book. Anjuli grantham, editor and coauthor of tin can country. They chose this location, on the islands western shore, because the surrounding waters were known for phenomenal fishing and epic salmon. Ketchikans colorful history includes chapters on the gold rush, salmon canneries, lumberjacks and much more. Extensive use of historical photographs with accompanying text, to record the history of the alaska salmon canning industry from 1879 to 1973.
She teaches creative writing at the university of alaska anchorage and science writing at johns hopkins university. New book reveals the history and ephemera of salmon canneries in southeast alaska. According to the ads, 59% of territorys total revenue came from taxes on salmon fisheries. Southeast alaska s historic salmon canneries, with a copy of the book. Southeast alaska s historic salmon canneries, edited by anjuli grantham, for june first friday. New book reveals the history and ephemera of salmon canneries in. The canneries, cabins, and caches of bristol bay, alaska chronicles the worlds greatest concentration of salmon and canneries and their influence on native and nonnative people in southwestern alaska. Around a century and a half of history told through the ups and downs of the salmon canning industry in southeast alaska is the focus of a new book due to be released in may. The cannery was built on the site of hamiltons fishery, an early alaskan salmon saltery. Southeast alaska s historic salmon canneries, drives home the strong bonds between the great state of the north and the pacific northwest.
List of salmon canneries and communities wikipedia. The history of upper cook inlet salmon fisheries, alaska. Local attractions including museums and tours offer the chance to learn more. General history of haines, alaska haines sheldon museum.
They were never important on the us atlantic coast, but by the 1940s, the principal canneries had shifted to alaska. Now, public historians are working to save the multicultural stories. As resourceful and as resilient as we are, filipinos have survived in the farthest corners of the world. Seafood industry researchers to casual history buffs will use and enjoy tin can country southeast alaska s historic salmon canneries. The libby, mcneil, and libby cannery at the mouth of the kenai river started. Historic canneries from the bering sea to british columbia.
Salmon in the pacific northwest and alaska collection, 1890. New book explores history of salmon canneries in southeast. Join editor anjuli grantham for a discussion about canneries as sites of alaskan history, followed by a book signing. Alaska historic canneries initiative alaska historical. Sep 25, 2009 alaska is home to more than two hundred federally recognized tribes. Anjuli grantham and bob king gave the presentation about a new book, tin can country. British columbia north coast on free shipping on qualified orders. Territorial alaskans howled, but decades passed before alaska became a state and the traps were outlawed in public waters.
You may not always enjoy the work, but youll learn to grin and bear it especially when the money starts rolling in. Since the late 1880s, commercial fishing has been a critical part of alaskan economy and culture. New book chronicles history of alaskas salmon traps. Her books include fishcamp, beluga days, and early warming. Larsen bay salmon cannery on kodiak island has a long history shaped by the ups and downs of commercial fishing. Canneries chetlo harbor packing company, chetlo harbor, washington operated from 1912 to 1915, canning 10,000 cases of salmon. The incident, involving locals and imported labor, was the first of many such conflicts in alaska over the rights to the seemingly endless resource of salmon. Successful projects inspired by the alaska historic canneries initiative include. Over forty years ago, karen started collecting salmon can labels, fishing industry ephemera, and other source. From the start, canners used imported chinese labor, but these initial canneries, at least, made peace with the indians by purchasing salmon from them or paying them to catch it. By losing cannery, we lose history as well anchorage. At larsen bay, a cannery where the tenacious rhythm of salmon. Gulf of georgia cannery, steveston, british columbia reopened in 1994 as a fishing and canning museum.
One of the most important fisheries that helped shape the history of alaska is the cook inlet commercial salmon fishery. The history of alaska dates back to the upper paleolithic period around 14,000 bc, when foraging groups crossed the bering land bridge into what is now western alaska. From a heartrending description of the long shadow of the great deaththe 1900 flu outbreakto mythological tales of magical northern pike and a project unearthing the indian history. While the period preceding world war i was characterized by exploitive growth and development of the alaskan fisheries, the post war years saw greater concern among alaskans for fisheries management, conservation and better working conditions in the canneries. Discover librarianselected research resources on alaska history from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. Anjuli will talk about canneries as sites of southeast alaskan history and bob will discuss his chapter on the hunter bay cannery. The alaska packers association apa was a san francisco based manufacturer of alaska canned salmon founded in 1891 and sold in 1982. The history of north american salmon canneries is exemplified by their history on the columbia river.
This copiously illustrated edition is filled with stories, essays, historic photographs, custom made maps and colorful salmon can labels that together tell the story of s. By losing cannery, we lose history as well anchorage daily news. The nn cannery project is a collaborative partnership between tundra vision, alaska association for historic preservation, the alaska state museum, trident seafoods, and local bristol bay groups aimed at preserving the important history of more than a century of cannery lives. As the largest salmon packer in alaska, the member canneries of apa were active in local affairs, and had considerable political influence. Tin can country, southeast alaskas historic salmon canneries is the work of petersburg resident karen hofstad. Cannery history project cannery history project jukebox the alaska historical societys alaska s historic canneries blog. So when the alaska department of fish and game took control of alaska s fisheries, they wanted to do it right. In 1900 the north alaska salmon company built two canneries near the junction of the alagnak and kvichak rivers.
And with resolve, another summer passes at the larsen bay cannery, where the tenacious rhythm of the salmon season beats with timeless familiarity. Alaskas historic canneries alaska historical society. For thirtyfive years, emard operated the emard packing company, with a plant in anchorage. List of books and articles about alaska history online. Book chronicles history of southeast salmon canneries krbd. Title the canneries, cabins, and caches of bristol bay, alaska contributor names branson, john b. By the end of the nineteenth century, 42 salmon canneries operated in alaska. At one time there were two canneries in anchorage and three in the upper inlet area, but the days of small, owner operated canneries in alaska are over and only the whitneyfidalgo seafoods, inc. She stopped by krbd to share her book tin can country. The pacific northwest region provides an exceptionally rich and nurturing environment for salmon. Bureau of fisheries, alaska fishery and furseal industries washington, gpo, various issues, 1923 to 1936. Mar 23, 2020 fishy first friday coming in june at the apk by amy carney on 20190530t08.
Cruise aboard an alaskan built vessel exploring the rugged coastline of the tongass narrows and glaciercarved george inlet. Salmon in the pacific northwest and alaska collection. Eigil buschmann and craig miller went into partnership the ocean packing company and from there waterfall cannery. Not to mention you get to live and play in some of alaskas coolest and most successful coastal towns. The annual average alaskan commercial harvest from 1900 to 1910 was about 30. Surprisingly that includes alaska where one of the earliest filipino settlements is found. On wednesdays show, well meet the author of a new book called tin can country.
She is giving a lecture on friday, june 7, 2019, at the. Tin can country, southeast alaska s historic salmon canneries is the work of petersburg resident karen hofstad. Tim troll is an attorney and has published two books on bristol bay history. These are also great jobs for college students as most of the work in done during the summer months. Bristol bay is known as the red salmon capital of the world as. The canneries, cabins, and caches of bristol bay, alaska. Alaska salmon traps is a richlyillustrated history of alaskas salmon trap era, including detailed descriptions of the design, construction, and operation of salmon traps. Salmon in the northwest contains documents, photographs and other original material describing the roots of the salmon crisis in the pacific northwest in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Below are examples of other potential projects, some large, some small. Emard played a leading role in the fisheries of cook inlet, with particular attention to the special qualities of cook inlet red and king salmon. Jun 20, 2019 of great value to anyone interested in canning history is the eight page salmon cannery chronology compiled by lewis mcdonald in 1949 which notes that 4 canneries were built between 1878 and 1949, 65 burned down and were not rebuilt, five burned and were rebuilt, ten were moved to other sites and many others were closed and consolidated. Klawack brand salmon tin, from the one of the first salmon canneries in alaska, opened at klawock in 1878 by the north pacific trading and packing company. Alaska is home to more than two hundred federally recognized tribes. The number of canneries grew rapidly between 1878 and 1920. Jun 10, 2019 anjuli grantham shows off historic salmon canneries tin from a collection from the karen hofstad at the alaska state librarys research center for first friday on friday, june 7, 2019. Illustrated articles about alaskas salmon resource and the salmon industry, with information on each species of pacific salmon, fishing vessels and gear, and a history of alaskas major salmon fisheries. Alaska history nancy lord is a longtime resident of homer, alaska, and a former commercial salmon fisherman. The kenai peninsula has seen a tremendous history of canneries and buying stations since well before statehood. Yet the long histories and diverse cultures of alaskas first peoples are often ignored, while the stories of russian fur hunters and american gold miners, of salmon canneries and oil pipelines, are praised. By 1872, robert hume was operating a number of canneries, bringing in chinese people. Southeast, prince william sound, cook inlet, kodiak, chignik, alaska peninsula, aleutians, bristol bay, kuskokwim, yukon, norton sound, and kotzebue. Saving the stories from bristol bays naknek cannery alaska.
By 1898, 59 canneries were operating in alaska and by 1920, 160 canneries were operating cooley 1963. Henry joseph emard was a noted alaska salmon canner and pioneer in the salmon canning business. Canneries chetlo harbor packing company, chetlo harbor, washington operated from 1912 to 1915, canning 10,000 cases of salmon gulf of georgia cannery, steveston, british columbia reopened in 1994 as a fishing and canning museum kake cannery, alaska. The canning of salmon in alaska was only possible due to advances in. I asked him a bit about their early history and this is what he had to say. Biologists began collecting data of salmon abundance and harvest rates, setting up test fisheries, counting weirs, fish wheels, and flying aerial surveys to assess the size and strength of each run. Ringsmuth teaches american and alaska history at university of alaska anchorage. Book spotlights fishy stories at the heart of the states history.
New book packed with history of southeast salmon canneries. The book draws from collections in the alaska state librarys historical collections donated by pat roppel and karen hofstad. The brothers william, george, and john hume, had a successful salmon fishing and salting operation on the sacramento river feeding san francisco gold miners in the 1850s. But her true historical love was the salmon canneries of the region, the often selfcontained.
Karen holfstad spent 50 years collecting stories, labels and other items to tell the story of fishing in southeast from the late 1800s to today. In 1878, alaska canneries packed 8,000 cases of salmon. About the kenai river salmon history fish seward alaska inc. Southeast alaska s historic salmon canneries is a multifaceted exploration of the salmon industry in southeast alaska. In alaska, canneries are places where fish are put into cans. This years peak has a long tail of success, dating back to the 1890s.
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