98 . PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 
tain number of cases during the coming season and the latter agrees 
to do all the work from the time the fish are delivered on the wharf 
until they are ready to ship at the end of the season for a certain 
fixed sum per case. Should the cannery pack more than the guar- 
anteed number, which it usually does if possible, the excess has to be 
paid for at the rate per case already agreed upon, while if the pack 
for any reason should fall below the contract amount, the company 
must pay for the shortage the same as though they had been packed. 
The company transports the Chinese to the field of work and carries 
them to the home port at the end of the season. It provides them 
with a bunk house and furnishes fuel, water, and salt. The con- 
tractor sends along with each crew a “‘boss,’”’ who has charge of the 
crew, and furnishes their food, the company transporting this free. 
White men do the greater part of the fishing for salmon, many na- 
tionalities being represented, but Scandinavians and Italians pre- 
dominate almost everywhere. A number of Greeks are to be found 
fishing on the Sacramento, while Slavonians do most of the purse 
seining on Puget Sound. The native-born American is not often 
found actually engaged in fishing, but frequently is the owner of the 
gear or has a responsible position in the packing plants. 
A number of Indians participate in the fisheries of Alaska, and a 
few fish in Washington. The only Chinese engaged in fishing are in 
Monterey Bay. A number of Japanese also fish in this bay, which is 
the only place in American territory where they fish for salmon. 
A considerable number of Japanese engage in fishing in Canadian 
waters. 
At many places on the coast, particularly in Alaska, fishing is a 
hazardous occupation. In Alaska most of it is done in the bays, 
sounds, and straits, where storms are frequent, and the annual loss 
of life is heavy. The records of the Alaska Fishermen’s Union 
show for its members the following losses of life by drowning: 1905, 
10 men; 1906, 5 men; 1907, 10 men; 1908, 17 men; and 1909, 17 men. 
The fishermen early saw the advantages of organization, and 
nearly every river now has a union, which is subordinate to the gen- 
eral organization. One of the most typical of these is the Alaska 
Fishermen’s Union, which has active jurisdiction over all sections of 
Alaska, except a portion of southeast Alaska. This organization 
enters into contracts with the salmon canneries and salteries, by 
which the rates of wages, duties, etc., of the fishermen are fixed in 
advance for a period of three years. As a result of this mutual agree- 
ment upon terms but little trouble is experienced with the fishermen, 
who generally conform scrupulously to the terms of the contract, 
and strikes and bickerings, which were very common a few years ago, 
are now almost entirely absent. 
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