Fishing and canneries

Japanese Americans found work at salmon canneries along the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington, and their labor was welcomed in Alaskan towns such as Ketchikan and Petersburg as early as the 1890s. They traveled by ship to the cannery towns, where they slowly developed small communities whose population swelled with the yearly arrival of workers. Issei (Japanese immigrant) entrepreneurs started the oyster industry from scratch in Puget Sound. Japanese American oyster farms became thriving businesses before World War II.

Industry and employment (481)
Fishing and canneries (256)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Takahashi v. Fish and Game Commission

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256 items

doc Oyster Raisers Lose Jap Help (April 19, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-761)

The Seattle Daily Times, April 19, 1942, p. 8

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-761/

doc Jap Ouster Hits Oyster Industry (March 5, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-667)

The Seattle Daily Times, March 5, 1942, p. 14

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-667/

doc Indians Discharge Japanese From Oyster-Opening Jobs (March 18, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-693)

The Seattle Daily Times, March 18, 1942, p. 5

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-693/

doc Wily Japanese Engage in Salmon Industry (July 21, 1913) (ddr-densho-56-237)

The Seattle Daily Times, July 21, 1913, p. 11

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-237/

doc Cannery Men Asked to Oust Japanese. Demand Made on Anacortes Employers to Give Orientals' Places to Whites. (July 21, 1915) (ddr-densho-56-268)

The Seattle Daily Times, July 21, 1915, p. 20

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-268/

Dynamite Plot Against Japanese. Thirteen Sticks, With Fuse Attached, Found Concealed in Blaine Cannery -- Sheriff Investigating. (August 10, 1915) (ddr-densho-56-271)

doc Dynamite Plot Against Japanese. Thirteen Sticks, With Fuse Attached, Found Concealed in Blaine Cannery -- Sheriff Investigating. (August 10, 1915) (ddr-densho-56-271)

The Seattle Daily Times, August 10, 1915, p. 7

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-271/

doc Japanese Cunning. Their Tricks Outwit the White Fishermen at Steveston. (July 2, 1900) (ddr-densho-56-15)

The Seattle Daily Times, July 2, 1900, p. 11

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-15/

Japs are Depleting the Herring Supply. Work of Oriental Fishermen at Nanaimo Calls Forth Indignant Protest From the Whites. (December 30, 1905) (ddr-densho-56-58)

doc Japs are Depleting the Herring Supply. Work of Oriental Fishermen at Nanaimo Calls Forth Indignant Protest From the Whites. (December 30, 1905) (ddr-densho-56-58)

The Seattle Daily Times, December 30, 1905, p. 2

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-58/

doc Oyster Industry is Safe -- Kincaid (March 27, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-722)

The Seattle Daily Times, March 27, 1942, p. 32

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-722/

doc The Jap Tidal Wave. (May 4, 1900) (ddr-densho-56-9)

The Seattle Daily Times, May 4, 1900, p. 9

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-9/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 66, No. 13 (March 29, 1968) (ddr-pc-40-13)

Selected article titles: "Role of mediator in civil rights pictured for JACL" (p. 1), "Fishing area name 'Japanese Point'" (p. 1), "Nisei a 'White' to Eyes of NAACP Man" (p. 1), "San Francisco to dedicate Japan cultural-trade center" (p. 1), "JACL Role in civil rights: interpret the problem" (p. 1), "New Nihonmachi to rise north of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-40-13/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 60, No. 7 (February 12, 1965) (ddr-pc-37-7)

Selected article titles: "Warren's 1942 Stand Demanding Evacuation Hit" (p.1), "Agricultural Exploits of Early Day Issei in San Luis Obispo, Watsonville, Role in Monterey Fishing Told History Project" (p.1, 4), "Great Lack of Communication between Nisei and Sansei Note by Psychologists" (p.1), "Utah Governor Signs Mixed Marriage Bill" (p.1), "'Nisei: the Pride and the Shame'" (p.2, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-37-7/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 83, No. 26 (December 24-31, 1976) (ddr-pc-48-51)

Special holiday issue. Selected article titles: "PC Headlines in 1986" (p. 3), "The Trend Is Toward Assimilation" (p. 4), "Five Critical Political-Social Issues for Nisei and Their Future Well-Being in U.S. Assessed" (pp. 5, 68), "Evacuation Remembered, but Use of Nihongo Fading Away" (pp. 85-87), and "Tule Lake's Steel Cross Rededicated by 1976 Pilgrim" (pp. 101, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-48-51/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 85, No. 5 (July 29, 1977) (ddr-pc-49-29)

Selected article titles: "Evacuation Was a 'Bum Deal': Buchanan" (p.1-2), 'Carter Appoints Four Nikkei to High-Level Posts" (p.1, 4), "Japan to Raise 1,000,000,000 Yen for Li'l Tokyo Cultural Community Center" (p.3), "The Bakke Case" (p.5).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-49-29/

doc Pacific Citizen, Vol. 95, No. 26 (December 24-31, 1982) (ddr-pc-54-51)

Special holiday issue. Selected article titles: "Preserving Our Japanese American History: Visual Communications' Photographic Archives" (pp. 14-15), "'Offensive Stupidity' and the Struggle of Abe Tokunosuke" (pp. 31, 43, 68, 70, 76-77), "1982: The Year in Review" (pp. 52-63, 69, 78-79), and "After the Rescue of the 'Lost Battalion': 'Gothic Line' Breakthrough by 100/442 Spells End to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-54-51/

doc Letter from Frank Herron Smith to C. I. O. Reporter, Station KYA, San Francisco, May 5, 1945 (ddr-csujad-21-3)

Letter to popular local radio reporter requests that he speak out against injustices perpetrated against Japanese American citizens during World War II. Smith notes his responsibility for "the care of our 37 Japanese churches," states that he is concerned that church members are not being allowed to work in canneries in Sacramento by the union, and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-21-3/

doc Executive meeting of the Monterey Peninsula Japanese American Citizens League, December 22, 1942 (ddr-csujad-44-195)

Minutes of the Monterey Peninsula Japanese American Citizens League executive meeting. Includes reports on several issues facing the community, including the Monterey fishing problem and unemployment. A new, independent committee is formed to address these issues. Also includes discussion of acquiring the property located at 424 Adams Street in Monterey, the cost of remodeling the club …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-44-195/

doc Permit of local board for registrant to depart from the United States (ddr-csujad-42-7)

A permit issued by Los Angeles Local Board. It certifies that Fumio Fred Takano's departure from the United States is "not likely to be called for military service." He works for Del Monte Cannery, San Diego, California, and requests the permit to visit Mexico for fuel supplies when fishing tuna. See this object in the California …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-7/

doc Asunto (ddr-csujad-42-8)

A medical certificate issued by Dr. José Gómez García in Mexico. It certifies that Fumio Fred Takano has been diagnosed with appendicitis and necessitates the surgical intervention immediately. It appears that Fumio became ill when fishing Tuna in Mexico. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_08_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-8/

img Harbor Boat Building Company (ddr-csujad-43-22)

Photograph number 1095 of Harbor Boat Building Company. California Marine Curling and Packing Company can be seen off to the right side. Negative scan. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ter_01_039

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-43-22/

img California Marine Curing and Packing Company (ddr-csujad-43-23)

Photograph number 1097 of the California Marine Curling and Packing Co. [Company] on Terminal Island. Two men are pictured walking to the building while another man is pictured standing by a car. Negative scan. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: ter_01_041

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-43-23/

img [Seiichi Okine?, fishing] (ddr-csujad-5-23)

A photograph of two Japanese men holding fishing rods. Right is probably Seiichi Okine. Includes fish that they caught. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_01_05_007

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-23/

img New Years celebration (ddr-densho-123-3)

New Years celebration hosted by Mr. Mamizuka, a labor contractor at the Alaska fishing and cannery company. His friends/co-workers are seated around the table. (L to R): unknown, Mr. Saburo, Mr. Masaki, Matsujiro Mamizuka, Mrs. Mamizuka, Bette Inui (who lived upstairs), Mr. Taoka, unknown, Mr. Ueno (?).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-123-3/

img Friday Harbor Canning Co. (ddr-densho-128-118)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-128-118/

img Shucking oysters (ddr-densho-15-93)

These Japanese Americans are shucking oysters on a table. Unshelled oysters were stored behind the wall shown here. The workers grabbed the oysters through an opening in the wall, opened them, placed the oysters in buckets, then deposited the shells on a conveyor belt below the worktable. Shuckers were paid by the bucket.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-15-93/