Ucluelet has long been recognised as a safe place to sit out a storm – the name even means ‘Safe Harbour’. In the first of our images of the fishing fleet you can see a group of three whaling boats moored at the wharf on the east side of Ucluelet Harbour.
Salmon fishing became more prominent in the area after the arrival of Japanese fishing families from the Fraser River in 1925.
The salmon industry expanded massively until it was said that the fishing fleet could span the harbour if tied up together. Typically a number of trollers would tie up at one space on the float so that fisherman would have to cross several boats to get to the float and shore.
If you have a story to share about salmon fishing, whaling or sealing from Ucluelet Harbour, please contact the Historical Society.