Gillnet fishing has a long history in British Columbia. It is the oldest form of industrial salmon fishing on the Northwest coast. First Nations fishermen were the first to practice this technique. Gillnetting works by stringing a net out in a water source, such as an estuary or an ocean, blocking the salmon's path. Gillnets are also used further upstream in large rivers like the Skeena.

The salmon swim into the net but are unable to go through because the mesh is too small. When they try to back out their gill covers get snagged in the netting, capturing them. This method of catching fish is very effective because the nets can be made so that they are highly selective by both size and species of fish in any given run. The principles behind gillnetting have not changed over the years - only the equipment and materials have changed.

Drawing of a gillnet anchored to a river bank. Images © Hilary Stewart. Indian Fishing: Early Methods on the Northwest Coast. p. 86.

Gillnetting began with the First Nations fishermen who used canoes and nettle or cedar fibre nets. Along the top of a net were wooden floats, and suspended from the bottom were stone weights. If a net was being used in shallower waters, sinkers were used to anchor it in place. The net would then be attached to shore or between two canoes. Once enough fish were caught in the net, the net would be hauled in to shore or the canoe by hand. With this method of fishing, First Nations peoples were able to take in large quantities of salmon in a short period of time. These salmon would be used as food, as well as a trade item to be exchanged with other First Nations groups, and later, Europeans.

Earlier gill net boats were powered by sails, as seen in this photograph.
© BC Archives Image #B-02301

By the time Europeans arrived and began settling in BC, First Nations peoples had already been involved in an extensive commercial fishing market. By 1864, commercial fishing had expanded into international markets. As a result, canneries sprung up all along the coast, with First Nations gillnet fishermen being the principle suppliers of sockeye salmon to the canneries. Japanese fishermen were also involved in the gillnet fishery early on. Later, other immigrants including the English, the Irish and the Scandinavians joined the leagues of gillnet fishermen along the coast.

Gillnet fleet, Deep Water Bay, 1949. © Campbell River Museum Archives Image #6722

When Europeans began gillnet fishing, their boats were oar-powered and up to 26 feet in length. Many of these earlier gillnet boats were also powered by small sails, and were often referred to as "row-sail" boats. By the beginning of the 1900s, larger steam-powered ships would tow the gillnet boats out to their fishing holes and retrieve them at the end of the day. In 1900, the Easthope family in Vancouver built the first gas-powered engine and attached it to a First Nations dugout canoe, which became the first gas-powered boat in the area. These engines became widespread throughout BC. Furthermore, the canneries converted all their row-sail boats to motor power and revolutionized the fishing industry. By the 1930s gas-powered boats were the norm, and the diesel engine was making its appearance on the scene.

In 1931 Laurie Jarelainen from Sointula created the first powered drum. This innovation had a dramatic effect on gillnetting. Because power drums could set and draw the gillnets into the boat faster, fishermen were able to fish in areas where water and weather conditions had previously prevented them from fishing. In addition, both nets and boats became larger due to this change in the drum. Moreover, as a result of powered drums the gillnetters could be converted, if needed, into small scale seining boats. Later, the more efficient gillnetters began replacing the older purse-seiners.

Other innovations in the industry also occurred. For instance, the natural fibre nets were replaced with new lightweight nylon ones that were more durable and easier to handle. These nets, as with the older style ones, were dyed different colours depending on the conditions they were used in. For example, since gillnetters often worked at night their nets would be dyed a dark colour. The reason for dying the nets was to make them invisible to salmon so that they would swim into the nets and get their gills caught.

Gillnet boat letting
its net out. © Campbell River Museum Archives Image #17314

One area of fishing technology that was rapidly changing by 1945 was that of marine equipment. Echo sounders, by the end of the 1930s, were in prominent use by fishermen up and down the BC coast. As a result of wartime experimentation during World War II, marine equipment became more compact, and was increasingly accessible to fishermen. For instance, radar and depth-sounding gear came into use. Combined with innovations in hydraulic gear and refrigeration, as well as navigation and communication aids, this led to greater mobility and access to fishing grounds for fishermen. It also meant that a greater investment in boats and equipment was needed in order to stay up-to-date and remain competitive in the industry.