Alaska will be celebrating 50 years of statehood shortly and there are many who are looking at how the state has transformed over this period.  Today Alaska’s economy derives most of its revenues from Oil and Gas and most employment from Federal, State and local government activities.  Tourism and commercial fishing are next in line in terms of jobs created and economic revenue for the state, but it wasn’t always that way.  As a matter of fact, commercial fishing and salmon fishing in particular were not only the dominant economic activity in the late 19th century (accounted for 80% of Alaska’s tax revenue in 1870) but also had a large part to play in Alaska’s move to statehood.

The Alaska Daily News has a great explanation of the role of salmon in Alaska’s drive to become the 49th state of the United States.  Prior to statehood, the federal government had over 600 very efficient traps set to catch fish throughout the state.  According to fishing historian Bob King: (more…)