Alaska, Blogs by Jim, cannery jobLeave a comment

The Human Bellwethers: Chinese Can Testers

jimchiao

Written into every early labor contract between a canning company and a Chinese contractor is the inclusion of can testers, something like: “The said contractor agrees to furnishing xxx good, young, and healthy Chinaman, including m foremen and n testers, all skilled at making cans and packing salmon…”. It turns out that these testers were one of the better paid workers among the Chinese laborers. In the 1900s, a Chinese can tester was paid significantly more than a general laborer, but earned much less than a foreman or an elite Chinese cook. They were considered as skilled labor, and held … Continue reading The Human Bellwethers: Chinese Can Testers

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Labor Union and the Salmon Cannery Workers

Philip Chiao

The story of Chinese cannery workers is, at best, only one of the many voices demanding attention in the history of the salmon-canning industry. After 1900, Chinese workers shared the canneries with Japanese, Hispanic, Black, and Filipino workers. Over time, the canners devised a classic strategy for fragmenting working-class solidarity, preventing unionization, and maintaining wages at barely subsistence levels. As Donald L. Guimary observes in his book Marumina Trabaho (Dirty Work), “Over time, the canners devised a classical ploy to fragment working class solidarity, preclude unionization and maintain the payment of barely substance wages.” (p. 1) The workers’ struggle for … Continue reading Labor Union and the Salmon Cannery Workers

Alaska, Blogs by Kristin, Chinese Contract System, Contractor, history, Oregon, PortlandLeave a comment

Kwong Shew Lung Company in Portland, Oregon

Kristin Wong

Chong Wong Chong, born in 1864, immigrated to the United States around 1882, arriving in Portland on a small steamer from Vancouver, British Columbia, as a laborer. After nine years working for Kwong Shew Lung Company (also spelled as Quon Shew Lun Company), he became its manager in 1909. It was a general merchandising business located first at 94 North 4th Street and later on North 3rd Street and was in business until the 1930s. It was capitalized at $10,000, with Chong holding a $2,000 share. He and the bookkeeper, Jung Ho Yip (who invested $600), each earned $60 per … Continue reading Kwong Shew Lung Company in Portland, Oregon

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The Arch of Healing and Reconciliation in Bellingham

jimchiao

A few years ago, while researching story about Ah Fat who was the only Chinese left in Bellingham after 1885 Bellingham expulsion. I came across a newspaper article titled The Last Chinaman. During that search, I unexpectedly discovered a song inspired by the story. I was pleasantly surprised that someone had turned this forgotten piece of history into music, and even more intrigued when I realized the lyrics included details about Ah Fat that I had never encountered before. I soon learned that the song had been written by Linda Allen, a folk singer and songwriter known for preserving historical … Continue reading The Arch of Healing and Reconciliation in Bellingham

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The Mystery of the Hot Mince Pie

Philip Chiao

One of the most interesting and mysterical food served on a cannery ship on its way to Alaska was described by Max Stern in his articles published by the Daily News in 1920:“After supper the games began again. By 8 o’clock I was desperately hungry again. But we were to have only two meals a day and I turned toward the Mexican store to spend some of my advance money for food.”“Hot mince-ee pie,” came a voice from the hatchway. It was Charlie, the Chinese cook. How thoughtful of him, just at the time when we were growing desperate for … Continue reading The Mystery of the Hot Mince Pie

Alaska, Blogs by Kristin, history1 Comment

Canned Salmon During World War II

Kristin Wong

Cannery marketing during World War II echoed earlier strategies, once again using patriotic labels with warships, flags, and bold national imagery to underscore salmon’s value to the war effort. These designs reminded consumers that each can supported troops who relied on high‑protein, shelf‑stable foods. Large quantities of canned salmon were shipped to Allied nations, where it supplemented ration systems strained by disrupted agriculture and long supply routes. In this way, salmon became both a practical resource and a symbol of cooperation across the Allied food network. Just like in World War I, the U.S. government sought to secure canned salmon for … Continue reading Canned Salmon During World War II

Blogs by Jim1 Comment

A Pygmy Monopolist & Chinese Workers

jimchiao

Today, Robert D. Hume’s life and writings help us better understand the origins of the Pacific Coast salmon industry and the people who built it. His autobiography “A Pygmy Monopolist” offers insight into early industrial practices, labor systems, and conservation ideas—many of which continue to influence public conversations about fisheries, sustainability, and community history. For us interested in Chinese immigrant histories, A Pygmy Monopolist provides an important window into the mindset of an era when industry, natural resources, and community development were deeply intertwined. In this article, we will examine a few minor details of his working relationship and encounters … Continue reading A Pygmy Monopolist & Chinese Workers

Alaska, Blogs by Kristin, history2 Comments

Canned Salmon During World War I

Kristin Wong

This image, from around 1913, offers a glimpse into the operations of a salmon cannery situated in either Oregon or Washington. It features eight men engrossed in the precision-driven task of manually weighing one-pound cans of salmon, a process essential to maintaining consistent product quality and compliance with industry standards. The backdrop reveals neatly stacked cans of salmon, a testament to their laborious efforts. This snapshot captures the rigorous, hands-on nature of food processing in the early 20th century, emphasizing the reliance on human skill and meticulous attention to detail during an era when automated machinery was limited. Beyond its … Continue reading Canned Salmon During World War I

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Sanborn Map of FIPC in Ketchikan, 1914

jimchiao

Fig 1: 1914 map of The Fidalgo Island Packing Company (FIPC) in Ketchikan, cropped to show the main facility of the cannery. (Ref. 1) A map, and a Moment in Time: Exploring the 1914 Fidalgo Island Packing Company in Ketchikan Sometimes history surprises you. You open an old document—say, a 1914 Sanborn fire insurance map—and suddenly you’re staring straight into the everyday life of a century-old salmon cannery. That’s exactly what happens with the Sanborn map of the Fidalgo Island Packing Company (FIPC) in Ketchikan. At first, it looks like a simple drawing of buildings and labels. But look closer … Continue reading Sanborn Map of FIPC in Ketchikan, 1914