Courtesy Robert H Guile Collection and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Inverness Cannery was the first cannery built on the north west coast in 1876.
“In 1875, Colonel Lane from the Columbia River arrived at Woodcock’s Landing aboard a coastal steamer belonging to the Hudson’s Bay Company. He came on behalf of Victoria businessmen to assess the possibilities of establishing a salmon canning plant on the north coast. Lane met Archdeacon W. H. Collison at the Landing, and Collison encouraged him to secure the site for a fish cannery. After successful negotiations with Woodcock, Lane returned to Victoria on the same steamer on which he had come.” The next year, the cannery was built.
On February 7, 1893, a fire at the cannery destroyed the main cannery building along with the surrounding structures. There was no fire fighting equipment and employees could do little more than watch the fire burn. It was re-built in time for the next canning season.
Alternate Names
Location
Year Built
Best pack
Last Season
Nil
North bank of Inverness Passage, near entrance to Skeena River
1876
1938, 62,271 cases
1950
One of the salmon can labels used by Inverness Cannery Courtesy BC Archives
Inverness, 1928 Courtesy Library and Archives Canada
Inverness Cannery Courtesy Robert H Guile Collection and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Five children, possibly from the Dudoward family at Inverness Cannery in 1952. Courtesy Robert H Guile Collection and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Charlotte Prevoe and Katie Shaw on the boardwalk at Inverness Cannery Courtesy Neil and Betty Carey Collection and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
A man, two women, a child, a baby in a stroller and a dog on the wharf at Inverness. The large tanks in the background hold copper sulfate that was used to help preserve the nets, in those days made of cotton and rayon. Cannery Courtesy McRae Bros and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Some children and dogs on the wharf at at Inverness Cannery Courtesy McRae Bros and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Charlie, Louis Barrett and George Tough on the wharf at Inverness Cannery, 1937. Courtesy Arlene Ashcroft Collection and and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Some coal just unloaded from the Sternwheeler Skeena, with Prime Minister Laurier in the crowd at Inverness Cannery August 21, 1910 Courtesy McRae Bros and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Some coal just unloaded from the Sternwheeler Skeena, with Prime Minister Laurier in the crowd at at Inverness Cannery August 21, 1910 Courtesy McRae Bros and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Prime Minister Laurier touring Inverness Cannery August 21, 1910 Courtesy McRae Bros and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Two women on the wharf at at Inverness Cannery Courtesy McRae Bros and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Inverness Cannery Courtesy Dept of Mines, Victoria and BC Archives
Putting down steel with the tracklayer of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad, passing Inverness Cannery Courtesy McRae Bros and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Courtesy McRae Bros and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Courtesy McRae Bros and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Inverness Cannery Courtesy George Bedford Church Collection and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Inverness Cannery Courtesy Fred Sharpe Photos and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Fishing boats tied up in front of Inverness Cannery, soon to be towed out the fishing grounds by the tug in front Courtesy McRae Bros and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Inverness Cannery 1918, Courtesy Wrathall Photos and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Sidewheeler Princess Louise at Inverness Cannery Courtesy BC Archives
GTP tracks running in behind Inverness Cannery Courtesy R G Large fonds and Prince Rupert City and Regional Archives
Inverness Cannery feeding fish into the Smith Butchering Machine Courtesy BC Archives
Sources:
Blyth, Gladys Y, Salmon Canneries-British Columbia North Coast, 1991
