Linda M. Pitcher, PhD

There are stories here... Generations of Gig Harbor fishermen, farmers, boat builders, loggers and merchants – Their memories, passed from generation to generation, echo here today, where many of our founding families still maintain the traditions, vocations, and civic commitments they established over a century ago.

Back then, an uncertain world brought waves of immigrants to the American frontier and an uncommon blend of people to the shores of Gig Harbor – first Croatians and Scandinavians, later Italians, British and Germans, as well as homesteaders from across the United States. While culturally diverse, each group possessed an exceptional set of skills that together forged the foundations of a community uniquely able to meet the challenges of the Pacific Northwest.

The Fleet is the first comprehensive accounting of Gig Harbor’s commercial fishing vessels. It offers an inclusive list of the boats, captains, owners, and fishing families that comprise of Gig Harbor’s celebrated Commercial Fishing Fleet. Get your copy…