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.