Introduction
A fishing village founded a century ago by Norwegian fishermen, Petersburg is about halfway between Ketchikan and Juneau at the northern tip of Mitkof Island and is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest. More of a working town than a tourist mecca, Petersburg's work is fishing. More than 600 commercial and sportfishing vessels ply the waters around Mitkof Island, providing employment for most of its residents.
The Tlingit people had long used the island as a fishing camp when Norwegian adventurer Peter Buschmann stopped there in the 1890s and noted its proximity to the LeConte Glacier. ...