The Price of Salmon: The Scandal of the West Coast Salmon Canning Industry

by Max Stern and James Chiao

In 1922, San Francisco Daily News investigative journalist, Max Stern, posed as a down-on-his-luck cannery workers to uncover corrupt hiring practices and deplorable labor conditions employed by Chinese contractors and Alaska salmon canners. Stern's collective articles spotlighted the discrimination, exploitation, profiteering, and mistreatment of cannery crews and exposed the corrupt, abusive practices of the labor contract system.

In thirty-seven...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1667834584
• ISBN13: 9781667834580
• Release Date: July 2022
• Publisher: Bookbaby
• Length: 222 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Mr Stern's price of salmon in the system

This is a new book based on the San Francisco journalist Max Stern basic articles on his investigation of the Alaska Salmon industry in 1922. He documented what he encountered, thought and took action to change the system of lying, cheating and abuse. In a way, it showed a hundred years ago, America was still in changing and developing and new laws to protect and enforce the labor force. He showed how the salmon seasonal labor being exploited and ended up owing money to the employers who fed them in food and drink as if domestic animals. He ended up buying extra food to gain strength. Medical help virtually was not available and if sick, good luck and asked God for SOS. This 2022 edition was composed by the Chinese twin brothers, James and Philip who gave their personal experience in this industry in the 70s. They gave a lecture couple months in San Jose. It is wonderful to learn their first hand information with this book. Readers will enjoy reading this besides Chinese involvement in the abalone industry of 19th century.