PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 97 
In 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 general 
organization. One of the most typical of these is the Alaska [isher- 
men’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 
certain period—three years—up until 1918, when an agreement was 
made for only one year. The same was true in 1919. As a result of 
this mutual agreement 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 
some years ago, are now almost entirely absent. 
CANNERY LABOR, 
NATIONALITIES. 
In the early days canning was a haphazard business and workmen 
came and went as common laborers do in the wheat fields of the West. 
As the business increased in importance and the need of skilled labor 
became imperative, men were put to certain work and kept at it from 
season to season, with the result that in a few years a corps of highly 
skilled workers had been evolved, and this had much to do with the 
rapid extension of the industry. 
or many years Chinese formed the greater part of the cannery 
employees, the superintendent, foreman, clerks, machinists, and 
watchmen alone being white. No other laborers have ever been 
found to do the work as well or with as little trouble as the Chinese. 
In times of heavy runs, when the cannery would have to operate almost 
day and night in order to take advantage of what might be the last 
run for the season of the sometimes erratic salmon, the Chinese were 
always willing, even eager, to do their utmost to fill the cans, and, if 
fed with the especial food they insisted upon having and due regard 
was had to certain racial susceptibilities, the cannery man could 
almost invariably depend upon the Chinese doing their utmost. 
The Chinese-exclusion law cut off the supply of Chinese, and as the 
years went by and their ranks became decimated by death, disease, 
and the return of many to China, the contractors were ee jean to 
fill up the rapidly depleting crews with Japanese, Filipinos, Mexicans, 
Porto Ricans, etc., with the result that to-day in many canneries 
special quarters have to be provided for certain of the races—more 
pemeprly the Chinese and Japanese—in order to prevent racial 
atred from engendering brawls and disturbances. 
In Alaska the Japanese now compose about one-half of the eorpeesd | 
employees. While a few cannery men express themselves as we 
pleased with this class of labor, the majority find it troublesome. 
11312°—21——7 
