From Native American dip nets to modern purse seiners, humans have harvested the rich abundance of Puget Sound’s fisheries for centuries. While sport fishing by individuals has become a recreational mainstay, it is commercial fishing that had brought the bounty to our tables and taken its place as a critical pillar of our economic, cultural and physical well-being.

“Hook, Line and Sinker,” the new exhibit at the Edmonds Historical Museum, details the life cycle of salmon, the story of Native fishing, and the evolution of today’s commercial fishing.

Items on display include an array of photographs, models and artifacts, many on loan from Hibulb Cultural Center, Nordic Heritage Center and several private collections. Notable items include rare hand-made wooden floating salmon trap model, original blueprints for fish traps, specialized cannery equipment, a replica of a Native drying rack, and rare canned salmon labels dating from the 1890s.

“Fishing is so basic to who we are in this part of the country. It continues to define and shape our culture, and its importance to our future cannot be understated,” said Katie Kelly, Museum Director. “The Edmonds Historical Museum invites everyone to come celebrate this defining piece of our culture with us.”

Hook, Line and Sinker opens July 23 and runs through Nov. 6 at the Edmonds Historical Museum, 118 Fifth Ave. N., in downtown Edmonds. The museum is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday between 1 and 4 p.m.