Salmon boat sailing to Alaska, May, 1923 mmbc 3936.01P

In the early 19th century, salted salmon was exported to Europe from H.B.C. posts. James Douglas helped develop the fishing industry in B.C.. By the mid-19th century, salmon-packing canneries were very active on the coast, and by the late 19th century, over 19 million one pound cans of salmon were processed in B.C.. Most of the supplies for this canning activity came from the city of Victoria and most of the export of the cans was handled through the port of Victoria.

Fish boats being towed to the fishing grounds in 1927
mmbc 4421P

Today, fishing is one of the most profitable industries in B.C.. The B.C. fisheries catch consists mostly of salmon, herring, and halibut. Other catches include sole, cod, and flounder. There are three types of salmon that are canned: sockeye, pink, and chum. The other two species, coho and chinook, are sold mainly to the fresh market. Herring is in demand for its oil and roe.

A large Alaskan halibut in 1939 mmbc 981.3.8P

Gail Francis- a troller Masset B.C. July, 1957 mmbc 1169P Troller at Masset B.C. July, 1957 mmbc 1169.06P

Salmon are caught using trollers, purse seiners, and gillnetters. Trollers are mainly used for catching coho and chinook because the fish are hauled in by line and not by net, keeping the fish undamaged for the fresh market. Seiners encircle the fish with a net and then draw, or 'purse', the bottom of the net, bringing the fish to the surface. Fish are caught by the gills in the nets trailing from gillnetters.

Gillnetters and seiners are mainly used to catch herring, but trollers and groundfish trawlers are also used. Groundfish trawlers use a bag-like net which is dragged from behind and they are mainly used to catch groundfish such as sole and cod. Longliners are the main type of vessel used to catch halibut. Like gillnetters, their nets are hung from floats, but they cover distances up to several kilometers and the nets have baited hooks on them.

The Sooke fishing fleet in the 1960s mmbc 985.52.1P

B.C. Packers mmbc 985.52.1P

Laws are in place to prevent overfishing which can lead to the depletion of fish stock. Individuals and companies require licenses to catch fish and they are monitored to prevent the collection of fish beyond specified quotas. The 200 mile limit, designated in 1977, is monitored to prevent other nations from fishing within British Columbian waters.

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