Postcard History

Industrial fishing in America began in the late nineteenth century when advancements in technology, such as steam-powered ships and hydraulic machinery, transformed most traditional fishing practices. Also, the introduction of refrigeration and canning allowed for the long-distance transport of fish to international destinations. In the early twentieth century, industrial fishing continued to expand with large-scale operations targeting cod, tuna, and shad. And without too many adjustments in practice and process, the fish business soon included crustaceans (like lobster, crab, shrimp) and mollusks (like clams, oysters, mussels), along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

One quite amazing and thoroughly amusing set of postcards dedicated to fishing in America is the Raphael Tuck & Sons six-card set, American Fisheries. It includes cards numbered sequentially from 5186-5191.

Lobster fishing is carried on along the Atlantic Coast from Labrador to Delaware, a distance of 1,300 miles. Lobsters range in weight from two to twenty pounds and are caught in a special form of fishing operations in which fishermen lower pots or traps.

Lobster fishing in the Northeast of the United States, particularly in states like Maine, is a time-honored tradition and a vital part of the regional economy. The cooler waters of the North Atlantic create an ideal habitat for American lobsters, making the area a prime fishing ground. Fishermen utilize traps, often with biodegradable materials, to catch lobsters, but at the same time minimizing the impact on the marine ecosystem. The fishing season typically runs from late June to late December, allowing lobsters to grow and thrive during the warmer months.

Clams are found in almost all parts of the American seacoast and great numbers of men are regularly engaged in digging them. The clam is a heavily shelled form of sea life living in muddy beds, principally beneath low water marks.

Digging clams is back-breaking work that requires skill and patience. Typically, the best time for clam digging is during low tide, when the sandy or muddy beds are exposed. Enthusiasts often equip themselves with a clam rake or a digging fork that they use to unearth their targets. Most areas have specific limits on sizes and quantities to ensure sustainable harvesting. Clam digging not only provides fresh seafood for meals but also fosters deep appreciation for coastal ecosystems.

The famous seat of the oyster industry is in the Chesapeake Bay, but oysters are found throughout a wide range of territory on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. They are taken from their beds by means of dredges ranging all the way from a hand apparatus much like a rake to iron basket scoops that are steam powered.

Evidence of oyster dredging goes back to ancient civilizations, when oysters were harvested from coastal waters for food. In the nineteenth century, interest in oysters surged, particularly in Europe and North America, because legends were rediscovered that suggested that eating oysters fostered long and healthy lives. Today, while traditional dredging practices remain, there are several emphases on aquaculture and restoring natural oyster beds that have been successful beyond expectations.

Salmon fishing is done with a seine (a fishing net with floaters) in the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon, the home of the Royal Chinook salmon, the largest, most valuable, and most richly flavored food fish in the world.  Currently (the 1910s) the product of the industry along the North Pacific coast is $12,000,000 annually.

Salmon fishing has been part of social history for years. It is intertwined with the economies of a dozen countries along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Indigenous peoples in North America have been catching salmon forever, using methods that have spiritual and communal values and have not changed for generations. Salmon are not just a food source; they are importance folklore.

As European settlers arrived in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, they adopted and adapted Native American fishing techniques, which led to the commercialization of salmon fishing.  

Today, salmon fishing remains a vital industry and recreational activity in many places and ongoing efforts to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems have succeeded.

Shad seining using horses is a common thing on the American seacoast where fishing for shad and other sea foods is conducted so extensively that horses are employed to haul in the seine. A horse can be trained to drag the large nets with masses of imprisoned fish that have an aggregate weight of many hundreds of pounds.

Seining is a fishing method specifically designed for catching shad. Shad seining has its roots in colonial times in North America. The practice became popular in the eighteenth century, particularly along the east coast rivers such as the Chesapeake Bay and the Delaware River, where shad were abundant during their migratory spawning runs. Shad seining involves using a large net that is drawn through the water to encircle and catch fish. The nets are anchored at the river’s edge and stretched across the water. The retrieval process is often a labor-intensive ordeal, and horses were used to pull the catch ashore. Eventually the process was mechanized and is some areas it remains a cherished tradition.

Seals found along the Alaska coast are the most valuable fur-bearing animals found in abundance on the islands off the Alaska coast. Seal fishing is carried on under the direction of the government to enforce protective restrictions.

In the nineteenth century, seal hide was a highly valued commodity, primarily due to its durability and waterproof properties. It was extensively used in the manufacturing of clothing, particularly for outerwear like jackets and boots, as well as in accessories such as bags and hats. Seal hides also contributed to the thriving whaling industry since seals and whales were often found in a compatible environment.  Furthermore, seal oil was as important as a fuel source for lamps as whale oil and remained an important industrial lubricant well into the twentieth century.

After World War II, advancements in sonar and trawling techniques further intensified fishing efforts, which resulted in overfishing and the depletion of stocks. The 1960s and 1970s marked a turning point as environmental concerns grew, prompting regulations that has proven successful since the American fishing industry thrives.

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This Tuck set first appeared in the Tuck catalog in 1906. The oldest known first use was in August of that year.