Darwyn Coxson, Biology Professor, UNBC – 250.635.6511 ext. 5281, 250.612.2678
Mike Kellett, Communications Officer, UNBC – 250.960.5621

Located in the estuary of the Skeena River, Cassiar Cannery is proud to announce the creation of the Skeena Estuary Research Centre at Cassiar Cannery.

When we arrived at Cassiar in 2006, we quickly realized how important the Skeena River is to the thousands of people throughout the watershed in addition to providing critical habitat for resident and migrating birds, mammals and salmon.  One of the most fascinating characteristics of the Cassiar Cannery is its rich and varied ecosystem coupled with the humbling aspects of the importance of this place, this river and its diverse human history that depends on the health and bounty provided by the Skeena River and the Pacific Ocean.

In 2009, Ali Howard and the Skeena Swim Team swam 610km from the headwaters of the Skeena River to the ocean.  She ended up here.  For us, this cemented the link between the entire Skeena Watershed and the responsibility that comes with being a part of this remarkable place.

There is a large gap in scientific data on the West Coast between the research station in Nanaimo and the next one in Alaska.  We are proud to begin the first phase of the Skeena Estuary Research Centre at Cassiar Cannery with a detailed assessment of the biodiversity of the Skeena Estuary along Cassiar’s foreshore area with the University of Northern British Columbia.

Led by Dr. Darwyn Coxson, Biology Professor at the Prince George Campus, permanent markers have been established at the Cassiar Cannery to record, catalogue and monitor the incredible diversity of species that make up the salt water tidal flats in this unique estuarine ecosystem.  Check under ‘news’ for press release issued by UNBC and Dr. Coxson highlighting the environmental importance the carbon stores of BC’s estuaries in additional to providing critical habitat for salmon, birds and mammals.

We hope this is just the beginning of hosting many facets of science and research here.  Future plans include building a proper facility to house as many fields of science and research that come forward to participate.

The ‘Jay Dee’ is a pretty wooden ex-gillnetter, gas-powered, that needs some love.

Price: Best Offer

Contact: Richard

Tel: (250) 267-8687

THIS VESSEL IS IN PORT EDWARD

This 2008 Harbourcraft Kingfisher 2825 all aluminum vessel is in fantastic shape.

Power: Twin 225 four stroke Yamaha’s with new power heads

Kicker: 2009 9.9 Merc model EXLPT

Extras:

• Garmin GPS 4212
• HD18 radar
• network box
• airmar sounder
• Deluxe interior with head and shower
• Espar water heater
• for and aft bus heaters
• Wallace diesel stove/heater
• Almost every available option

Trailer: 2005 tri axle easy loader, electric brakes and very low miles.

PRICE: Charter ready $125,000.00 FIRM

Contact Information:

T: 250-628-3500 home

C: 778-884-3500 cell

E: marlincharters@hotmail.com

POSEIDON MARINE GROUP

Mark Bell’s Poseidon Marine is based out of the old Cassiar Cannery (see page 47 in this issue).  Mark was with Trites Marine, S&H Custom Yachts and Stratos Yacht Services prior to being partners in a boat shop at Race Rocks Marine (West Vancouver).  In the early 2000s he went to Bo and Teak Spiller’s Commodore’s Crafted Boats at Shelter Island for several years during the massive wood rebuilds on the ex tugs VIKING KING and SWELL before moving to Cassiar in 2006.  In the photo (inset) Mark is working at Rushbrooke Harbour on the aft cabin extension of the EROS, a 46 ft ex troller.  The photo (left) shows the CHARLIE M, a 50-ft motor yacht, originally built in California with a ferro-cement hull and plywood house works, which received a new interior layout of wheelhouse, galley, saloon with mahogany woodworking plus new heating system etc.  Exterior work included a new dodger plus an extension of the upper deck aft over the cockpit (both aluminum), as well as fairing, painting and bright-work.  The MICHELE MARIE, another ex-troller with an aft cabin extension, received an interior refurbishing with cherry cabin sole etc while the 38-ft cruiser MADERIAN had its decks strengthened and recambered.  A 200-ton 90′ x 36′ fishing lodge barge had taken up residence on the barge grid at Cassiar after a previous go-around had seen 60 new planks bolted in.  Mark was able to send the barge away on the end of a towline after the owners agreed to an extensive hull recaulking (1600 lbs of oakum).  The barge is now at the end of Port Edward’s new drive-on dock (see photo page 46).

Poseidon Marine featured in Western Mariner September 2010

NEW LIFE AT CASSIAR CANNERY

Does this landscape (top photo) look familiar?  Hint ‘A Letter from Home’.  At the end of the road, past Port Edward on Inverness Passage at the mouth of the Skeena River, Justine Crawford and Mark Bell (top photo) bought the Cassiar Cannery four years ago.  They live in the far house; half the orange and the red house (all are former cannery manager’s homes) are now renovated as rentals.  The orange’s other and the white cabin are coming along and, when Western Mariner visited in late July, the green house was being jacked up for a new foundation.  Recycled timbers and logs salvaged off the the river doorstep are milled for furniture, floors and structural timbers and lumber.  Oldtimers with associations with Cassiar (for example Lloyd Kristmanson from Osland who drove many piles for Cassiar and the other Skeena canneries) have responded to the energy being expended by Crawford and Bell with support and hands-on know-how.  The photo (above) shows the expansive wharf structure, its pilings and underpinnings still in overall good shape in the mainly fresh water.  To the right is the boat shop erected in the 1960s with an adjacent synchro-lift and to the left is the oldest remaining building at Cassiar, the net loft dating back to the 1920s.  Mark’s Poseidon Marine (see In the Shipyards in this issue) is presently located in the former general store (to the left middle photo) with plans to eventually move to the boat shop.  In front of the former freezer building (erected in 1979) are some goodies dropped of by Bert and Harold Campbell of Welcome Harbour, Porcher Island.  The cannery became fully operational in 1904 with the Cassiar Packing Co and operated into the early 1980s.  For more history of Cassiar see www.cassiarcannery.com and as for the scene in the photo, check page 13 in this issue.  Mrs Amor de Cosmos has been using a similar photo with her column going back to the premier issue of Western Fish & Seafood which was started up alongside Western Mariner in March 2003.

Cassiar Cannery featured in Western Mariner – September 2010

WARTIME PRINCE RUPERT AND CASSIAR

To the Publisher:

I have just had the immense pleasure of reading through your September issue, one that will always be in my library.  Why the exultation? Your features on Prince Rupert and Cassiar Cannery!

On September 15, 1944 I was a 19-year-old youth who was sent to Prince Rupert and the salmon canneries to work.  It was thought that I was an experienced label machine operator, but alas I was only a neophyte! In the ensuing three months I not only learned to operate the labelling machines, but also employed in most of the canneries that were in existence in 1944.

In 1944 on the Inverness Slough and Skeena River there were a number of canneries – Port Edward, Inverness, North Pacific, Sunnyside and Cassiar on the north shore, whilst Claxton, Carlysle, and I believe Porcher Island, were all canning salmon with all production slated for England during war-time.  I either labelled product or was the shipper and loader of the box cars of product.

After the canning season I was then dispatched to the Ocean Dock in Prince Rupert where I completed the 1944 season labelling on December 14, 1944.

When I first arrived in Prince Rupert, the American Army was a dominant factor in affairs of the city.  Besides their influence in Prince Rupert they also had constructed and established an orientation centre at Port Edward, which after a cessation of hostilities, was returned to the Port Edward authority and became today’s Port Edward municipality.

There is an article in your issue as regards Tuck Inlet.  Originally there was a salmon cannery at the head of the inlet.  In 1940 or so Nelson Bros Fisheries purchased the Tuck Inlet Cannery and moved the canning machinery to the Ocean Dock in Prince Rupert and became one of the first canneries in the city.  However when the American army arrived they confiscated the Ocean Dock making it necessary for the cannery and all equipment to be moved to the present Port Edward locale.

Another pleasant surprise was the article on Cassiar Cannery.  During my 1945 tour of duty in Prince Rupert I had occasion to draw canned salmon samples for the Department of Fisheries laboratory from the Cassiar warehouse.  We had always been friends of the McMillan family and it was my introduction to their enterprise.  In 1962 I left the employ of Nelson Bros. Fisheries Ltd. and joined a firm, Anderson & Miskin Ltd. and discovered that A&M were the sales agents for Cassiar Cannery.  Over the ensuing years I was a yearly visitor to the cannery, the McMillans and a number of the cannery staff. (Keeping things in the family, my brother ran the grocery store there in the late ’40s whilst he was a student at UBC.)

From the above you can appreciate my interest in Prince Rupert and Cassiar Cannery, which your magazine has highlighted.  I am in anticipation of your October issue and the second part of your adventures in Prince Rupert.

Yours truly,

A. Stanley Fleetham

Sechelt BC

Letter from A. Stanley Fleetham to Western Mariner January 2011