Uvic Thesis Template
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Towards a Historical Ecology of Halibut Fishing on the Northwest Coast by Jacob Ulrich Salmen-Hartley B.A. (Hons.), McGill University, 2014 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the Department of Anthropology Jacob Salmen-Hartley, 2018 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. ii Supervisory Committee Towards a Historical Ecology of Halibut Fishing on the Northwest Coast by Jacob Ulrich Salmen-Hartley B.A. (Hons.), McGill University, 2014 Supervisory Committee Dr. Iain McKechnie, Department of Anthropology Supervisor Dr. Quentin Mackie, Department of Anthropology Departmental Member iii Abstract Supervisory Committee Dr. Iain McKechnie, (Department of Anthropology) Supervisor Dr. Quentin Mackie, (Department of Anthropology) Departmental Member This thesis examines the enduring history of human interactions with Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) on the Northwest Coast of North America, through the framework of historical ecology, drawing on multiple lines of inference and diverse sources of archaeological, historical, and contemporary data. Morphometric analysis of traditional halibut fishing equipment, combined with analysis of halibut mouth structure, illuminates how this technology mediates the interactions between fishers and fish, and provides insight into the size of halibut targeted. Calculation of regression relationships to estimate halibut length from archaeological elements, and application of this method to nine archaeological sites, allows estimation of a pre-industrial Pacific halibut size baseline. Comparison of these data with industrially harvested size distributions from different time periods reveals significant differences between pre and post-industrially harvested populations. Historical written accounts, interviews with knowledgeable individuals, and experimental archaeology allow for further investigation into past halibut fishing practices. iv Preface Chapter 3 is written as a manuscript for eventual single-authored publication. Chapter 4 is written as a co-authored manuscript with significant knowledge contributions and editing from Dr. Iain McKechnie, as well as data and knowledge contributions from Dr. David Huelsbeck (Pacific Lutheran University). Due to this structure there is a minor amount of redundancy between chapters. v Table of Contents Supervisory Committee ...................................................................................................... ii Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iii Preface................................................................................................................................ iv Table of Contents ................................................................................................................ v List of Tables .................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures .................................................................................................................. viii Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. xi Dedication ........................................................................................................................ xiii Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Thesis Introduction ................................................................................................... 1 Position and Objectives............................................................................................... 3 1.2 Research Questions and Methods ............................................................................. 4 Question 1: What can an archaeological analysis of Indigenous halibut fishing equipment reveal about past fishing practices and present-day implications? .......... 5 Question 2: What was the size range of halibut caught in the past? .......................... 7 Question 3: Can archaeological halibut elements provide size data relevant for present-day management? .......................................................................................... 9 Chapter 2: Background and Literature Review ................................................................ 11 2.1 (Marine) Historical Ecology ................................................................................... 11 2.2 Ecological Background ........................................................................................... 13 2017 Stock Assessment............................................................................................. 16 2.3 Archaeological and Anthropological Background .................................................. 17 Zooarchaeology......................................................................................................... 17 Traditional Fishing technology ................................................................................. 22 2.4 Ethnographic and Ethnohistoric Background ......................................................... 26 2.5 Early Industrial Fisheries ........................................................................................ 38 2.6 Summary of Background and Literature Review ................................................... 46 Chapter 3: A Morphometric and Biological Examination of Traditional Northwest Coast Halibut Fishing Technology ............................................................................................. 47 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 47 Theoretical Approach................................................................................................ 50 3.2 Materials and Methods ............................................................................................ 53 Morphometric Hook Analysis................................................................................... 53 Halibut Mouth Morphology ...................................................................................... 57 3.3 Results ..................................................................................................................... 62 Qualitative Observations ........................................................................................... 62 Quantitative Observations ......................................................................................... 64 Geographic Patterning and Variability ..................................................................... 67 Halibut Mouth Morphology and Size Estimation ..................................................... 69 3.4 Discussion ............................................................................................................... 73 Hooks ........................................................................................................................ 73 Interspecies Material Logic ....................................................................................... 76 vi Size-Selectivity ......................................................................................................... 78 Resource Management .............................................................................................. 80 3.5 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 82 Chapter 4: Archaeological Data Contextualize Historical Change in Pacific Halibut Fisheries ............................................................................................................................ 84 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 84 4.2 Materials and Methods ............................................................................................ 88 Size Estimation Method ............................................................................................ 88 Archaeological Application ...................................................................................... 91 4.3 Results ..................................................................................................................... 96 Size Estimation Method ............................................................................................ 96 Archaeological Estimations ...................................................................................... 98 4.4 Discussion ............................................................................................................. 105 Size Estimation Method .......................................................................................... 105 Length Frequency Comparison ............................................................................... 105 Indigenous Halibut Fishing and Resource Management ........................................ 108 4.5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 111 Chapter 5: Conclusions ..................................................................................................