'Namgis fishing late 1800s

This photo, dated from the late 1800s, shows First Nations from Alert Bay, likely members of the 'Namgis First Nation, fishing on the Nimpkish River. In this type of fishery a net was pulled out into the river by a dugout canoe. In the late 1800s a saltery was set up in Alert Bay to process fish caught locally. One side of the net has 'corks' to make it float, and one side has 'lead' to make it sink. Nets could either be strung across the river to catch salmon by the gills (a gill net), or taken out from the shore into a large purse which was gradually made smaller as it was pulled onto shore (seine).