Father and son dredging for gold in the Bering Sea, ca 1904 (MOHAI 7208)

The discovery of gold in the beach sands at Nome, Alaska, inspired people to dredge for offshore gold in the Bering Sea. Captain Henry S. Finch, Sr. and his son, Captain Henry S. Finch, Jr. spent the winter of 1904-1905 in Nome, Alaska trying their hand at offshore mining. The two men made enough money to return to Seattle and set up their business of ship salvage, cargo recovery and underwater construction.
This photo of Captain Henry S. Finch, Sr. and his son, Captain Henry S. Finch, Jr. was taken off Nome, Alaska sometime during the winter of 1904-1905. According to a descendant of the two men, Capt. Finch, Sr. would have been about 55 years old at the time and his son, 17.

Subjects (LCTGM): Diving suits; Dredging; Gold rushes; Ice
People: Finch, Henry S., Sr; Finch, Henry S., Jr