On July 1, 1986, the boat-filled Hidden Falls hatchery east of Baranof Island marked the beginning of the Southeast seine season. With almost 100 boats on the water and over 25,000 chum salmon caught during the 15-hour period, the season was off to a busy start.
While the season kicked off near Baranof Island, it fell through near the Kenai Peninsula. A popular stretch of Kenai’s Russian River was closed off to fisherman to ensure a suitable number of red salmon could move upstream and spawn before the rush continues.
The start of July marked the ending of Queer Pride month, but it did not mark the end of LGBTQ activism. After the Supreme Court ruled that consenting adults have no constitutional right to private homosexual conduct in 1986, gay rights leaders vowed to continue their fight against discrimination regardless of any ruling or time of month.
“This Day in Juneau History” is compiled by Empire intern Tasha Elizarde, who sums up the day’s events — 30 years ago — by perusing Empire archives. To learn more about the project, click here.
