Ketchikan in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

Harvest from the Sea

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 2, 2026

1. Harvest from the Sea Marker

Inscription.
Traditionally, Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian relied on gifts from the sea. Much of their subsistence activity consisted of catching several species of fish, collecting an array of foods from the intertidal zone and hunting marine mammals. The bounty from the sea gave rise to a Tlingit saying, “When the tide is out, the table is set.”

Marine Mammals
Sea lions, porpoises, sea otters and fur seals were hunted for their pelts, meat and oil. Hunting these animals took great skill. Although the coastal Natives here did not hunt whales, they did value the oil from beached whales.

Dipping and Trapping
Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian feasted on migrating salmon, speared with harpoons or dipped out of the water with nets. They also made traps using rocks or wood and caught salmon on the incoming tide. Smoking and drying preserved this staple which they often stored hanging from the rafters in the clan house.

Spring Spawn
Natives caught herring by drawing a long paddle with bone spikes through the water. Herring eggs were collected from branches suspended in favored spawning areas. Eulachon were netted. Their oil, which was an important part

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of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian diet, was also used as a preservative and traded for other items.

Beach Foods and Shells
Clams, cockles, gumboot, chitons, abalone, scallops, crabs, sea urchins, beach asparagus, goose tongue and seaweed were all harvested from the intertidal zone for food. Abalone and dentalium shells graced inlay work, household ornaments and implements. They were valued as barter.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 55° 25.195′ N, 131° 46.413′ W. Marker is in Ketchikan, Alaska, in Ketchikan Gateway Borough. It can be reached from Totem Bight Road. Marker is located in Totem Bight State Historical Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9883 North Tongass Highway, Ketchikan AK 99901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Alaska,

in Tlingit and Haida & Tsimshian Region.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Inside Passage,

on the

Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 2, 2026

2. Harvest from the Sea Marker

Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Understanding Totem Poles (a few steps from this marker); Symbols and Society (within shouting distance of this marker); What is Totem Bight? (within shouting distance of this marker); The story of Totem Bight (within shouting distance of this marker); Types of Totem Poles (within shouting distance of this marker); Preserving the Past (within shouting distance of this marker); Aging in the Elements (within shouting distance of this marker); A Look Into the Clan House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ketchikan.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 14, 2026, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 14, 2026, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.