Salmon Empire Built on Blood and Greed

In the frozen wilderness of Alaska, a sinister tale of pioneer exploitation has unfolded. By the late 1800s, the lure of gold, oil, and timber had drawn settlers to the region, but one industry would reign supreme – the lucrative salmon canning trade. In 1878, the first cannery sprouted up at Klawak, a small outpost along the coast. The cannery’s inaugural shipment in 1882 – 21,745 cases of one-pound cans – marked the beginning of a ruthless pursuit for profit.