Four men work to pack king salmon in a warehouse in Juneau. The time period, according to records is from 1893-1943. Salmon can be seen covering the floor, counter tops, scales and even hanging from support poles.

During this time period, much of the fish that was caught commercially was canned. In fact, canned salmon was then the largest industry in Alaska and produced more than 80 percent of the territory’s tax revenues. The first salmon canneries in Alaska had been built in 1878 at Klawock and Sitka. The North Pacific Trading and Packing Company’s Klawock cannery operated for 51 years. The Sitka cannery closed after two seasons and its machinery was moved north to Southcentral Alaska.