Cannery Village

Download or read book Cannery Village written by K. Mack Campbell and published by . This book was released on 2004-05-09 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Salmon canning in British Columbia began in 1870 on the Fraser River, and shortly after, in 1877, on the Skeena River. Over the next 100 years or so, some 175 canneries were built on the coast and as many as 95 operated in a given season. Many of these were on the Fraser River--B.C.'s (and Canada's) principal salmon producer. But most were upcoast--the outlying plants--and these supported complete villages in every section of the coast. They were remote and isolated but vibrant, living communities. A few operated year-round, but most were seasonal operations geared towards salmon runs. The cannery villages sustained a unique way of life that quickly grew, flourished, and then died, so that it no longer exists. The cannery sites, for the most part, are also gone, and the lives lived in them are now just memories. This book traces the development of the industry with data on each of the outlying plants and records the memories of some of those who worked and lived there. It describes the ethnic and racial features of cannery life. It recalls the symbiotic relationship between the fishery operations and the steamboats--those amazing lifelines--that served them. The memories of some of the old-timers are included as they tell their own stories and many of the industry leaders are highlighted. There are many pictures of the plants which were so familiar to generations of cannery families. The book is a refreshing and competent look at the history of an industrial phenomenon that was an essential part of British Columbia's coastal history.