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Packing and Shipping

Two men stand on either side of stacked shipping crates suspended by pulley above a cannery dock.

Two cannery workers at the Nootka Cannery preparing to load crates of canned salmon into the hold of a steamship for transport. Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society Archives G2001.009.196B

In the early years cans were hand packed in wooden crates. Later, cans were packed using a box-up machine, which would place cans into each box. The box lids were applied manually and nailed down. Cardboard subsequently replaced wooden boxes providing a more economical container for shipping.

Once boxed, the canned salmon was stored at the cannery or centralized company warehouse. From there the product was distributed throughout North America or exported to markets in Britain and Europe.

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Workers labeling and crating one pound cans. Crates are stacked to the ceiling in the background.

City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 586-1056, photographer Don Coltman, Steffens-Colmer Studios Ltd

A huge stack of half pound cans is seen stacked up to the roof beams of a warehouse.

Half pound cans stacked to the roof beams in a warehouse. c. 1913 Image E-05060 courtesy of the Royal BC Museum and Archives.