Catching, Smoking, Freezing and Canning Salmon

Subsistence fishing in Alaskan communities is a lifestyle and a way of life. Many people begin fishing in early spring for Eulachon, pronounced (hooligan). The fish (smelt-like) return from the ocean each year to their birthing grounds in freshwater to spawn and die. The fish are caught with dip


Nick tossing the net

nets and a circle type of net weighted down on the ends, so when it is tossed properly it will open up into a circle and drop over-top the fish, quickly sinking to the bottom and trapping the fish inside the net.

This is a sport I have become addicted too. Not only was I catching fish, I'm along the river learning a new way to fish and enjoying the first warm days of the year.








A small catch (learning to throw the net)

Eulachon are known for their nutrient rich oil. Indigenous people here in  Haines still catch them and place them in a pit in the ground and leave them there until they rot. The fish are then taken out of the ground and boiled to remove the rich oil.




In June the Sockeye begin their run up the Chilkoot river and the Chilkat River and it's tributaries to spawn. The rivers are full of the fish for weeks and everyone it seems is fishing, smoking, canning and drying fish.

By late August the Pinks (Humpies) are in the rivers. I was fishing on the Chilkoot River yesterday, and as I walked down the bank toward the river's edge I stepped alongside a set of brown bear tracks that were leading away from the river. Of course tracks from brown bears are common, but on any given day bears can be seen fishing from the banks.

The banks are scattered with dead fish that have been pulled out of the water by the bears and usually only partially eaten, leaving a stench that at times can be overwhelming.






These strips are cut from Sockeye, soaked in a brown sugar and salt brine, hung and smoked with Cottonwood. The strips are then cut into small pieces and canned.

This brown bear sow and cub walked up onto the road fifty feet from where I was standing. I slowly turned and crawled into my truck.











Holland America at the PC Dock with Fort Seward in the background. This picture is for those of you that were on my last tour. My view.
If any of you would like a copy of this picture please send me an email.

 

 

It looks like summer has come and gone. The daylight hours have gone from 22 in late June to approximately 15 as of September 5th.  By Winter Solstice on December 21 the sun will be rising at approximately 9 am and sunset will be around 3:15 pm, leaving us in the dark by 3:45.

The first snow typically leaves a fresh powder on the tips of the mountains and from there we watch it slowly make its way down the mountains. When Mt. Ripinsky (the mountain north of town) gets it's first dusting of snow, we know it's only a few weeks until it reaches the ground.

As always I get excited for winter to begin, but first is our run of Coho (Silver) Salmon.  This is one of my most favorite times of the year, autumn is in full swing covering the valley in bright colors.

Catching Chum (Dogs) Salmon (2011)

 And, there I am standing somewhere on the banks of the Chilkat River with fishing pole in hand, the sun shining it's last rays of warmth on my face, eagle's gliding over the water in search of a catch and the never ending thought to keep an eye out for bears walking the banks.

By the end of October most of the fish will be up the river in the Eagle Preserve and beyond. There is a four mile stretch of river that doesn't freeze because of warmer water entering into it. The eagle's gather here in November by the thousands to feast on the fish as they pass through. Although it's cold and snow is on the ground by then, there are still a few bears out and about in search of their last meal before finding a place to hibernate for the long winter ahead.

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