Peter Clenott

The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) has occupied a salient position in the history of eastern North America for at least the past 1000 years. Initially the species occupied a prominant niche in the prolific web of life that existed throughout its former occurrence area; millions of pounds of salmon were produced annually from the freshwater streams between New York and Ungava - a resource that was a principal food source for the Amerindian cultures which shared its range. In a chronological and cumulative way, the salmon became an increasingly important factor in both the domestic and commercial life of the developing colonies; it provided a recreational outlet for the sportsman, and evolved as a principal object of intellectual and scientific investigation. The documented specifics of the salmon's history, however, are largely comprised of repetitive instances of overexploitation, careless destruction of stocks and their environment, and ineffectual conservation actions. Despite the species' former importance, its more recent history is one of declining presence, and its destiny appears to be extinction. By documenting this story of discovery, exploitation, and decline, the urgent need for the employment of sound resource management practices to preserve the salmon is emphasized. Appendix A: Historical methods of packing salmon.