The item is a reel of documentary film. "'A film dealing with the salmon fisheries on the world's greatest salmon stream, showing the methods of catching and the preparation of fish in the canneries. This is one of the series of subjects on Canada's extensive fisheries.' Map of Canada, pointing to the Skeena, then a map of British Columbia with the Skeena being pointed out. Fish boats strung across the mouth of the Skeena on a cloudy day, engaged in drift-netting. Broadside shot of fishing trawler "Jedway" with many smaller sailboats in tow. Long Line of small boats from astern, good [close-ups] of boats in tow. Once at the fishing ground the small boats break away, hoist their sails and head for a likely spot. Gill-netting only is allowed, so boats let out nets, one man rowing, the other tending net. The men pull their nets in to reveal their catch. [Log shot of] cannery from the river. Nets drying at a cannery, a boy on the wharf mending his net, an old timer with beard in an iris shot. The salmon, still alive, are placed aboard a trawler and taken to the cannery. Crates of salmon being lifted off trawler onto the wharf and then moved into the cannery shed. Fish being gutted in the cannery. The backbone is removed. Rows of girls washing the fillets. The salmon are packed in bulk and mildly cured, with a little salt, in barrels. A barrel is sealed. The barrels are rolled out onto the wharf and loaded onto a steamer for "eastern canneries" or "foreign countries". [Long shot of] the steamer sailing away in an iris." (Colin Browne)

The item is a documentary film. "'A film dealing with the salmon fisheries on the world's greatest salmon stream, showing the methods of catching and the preparation of fish in the canneries. This is one of the series of subjects on Canada's extensive fisheries.' Map of Canada, pointing to the Skeena, then a map of British Columbia with the Skeena being pointed out. Fish boats strung across the mouth of the Skeena on a cloudy day, engaged in drift-netting. Broadside shot of fishing trawler "Jedway" with many smaller sailboats in tow. Long Line of small boats from astern, good [close-ups] of boats in tow. Once at the fishing ground the small boats break away, hoist their sails and head for a likely spot. Gill-netting only is allowed, so boats let out nets, one man rowing, the other tending net. The men pull their nets in to reveal their catch. [Log shot of] cannery from the river. Nets drying at a cannery, a boy on the wharf mending his net, an old timer with beard in an iris shot. The salmon, still alive, are placed aboard a trawler and taken to the cannery. Crates of salmon being lifted off trawler onto the wharf and then moved into the cannery shed. Fish being gutted in the cannery. The backbone is removed. Rows of girls washing the fillets. The salmon are packed in bulk and mildly cured, with a little salt, in barrels. A barrel is sealed. The barrels are rolled out onto the wharf and loaded onto a steamer for "eastern canneries" or "foreign countries". [Long shot of] the steamer sailing away in an iris." (Colin Browne)

Industrial film. A comprehensive look at the B.C. salmon industry, including the salmon run; fishing techniques; salmon species; Nass and Skeena River migrations; Hells Gate fishways; cannery operations. Concludes with a cooking demonstration, showing methods of preparing and serving salmon.