In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, San Francisco played a pivotal role in the burgeoning Alaskan salmon canning industry by supplying both labor and materials. Sailing ships, notably those operated by the Alaska Packers’ Association (APA), were central to this operation, ferrying thousands of workers and vast quantities of supplies from California to Alaska’s remote canneries each season.
The APA, established in the late 19th century, acquired a fleet of sailing vessels to meet the industry’s demands. These ships, often repurposed from other trades, were tasked with transporting seasonal laborers—predominantly immigrants from China, Japan, and the Philippines—as well as essential supplies such as salt, barrels, and fishing equipment to the Alaskan canneries. After the summer fishing season, these vessels would return to San Francisco laden with canned salmon, ready for distribution to markets nationwide.
One notable vessel in this fleet was the Star of Bengal, an iron three-masted sailing ship built in 1874. Initially serving trade routes between London and Calcutta, the Star of Bengal was later purchased by the APA to serve the Alaskan canneries. Tragically, in 1908, while transporting workers and a cargo of canned salmon, the ship encountered a severe storm near Coronation Island, Alaska. The vessel was wrecked, resulting in the loss of approximately 110 lives, marking one of the most devastating maritime disasters in Alaskan history.
Another significant ship was the C.A. Thayer, a schooner built in 1895. Initially engaged in the lumber trade, the C.A. Thayer was later utilized by the APA for the salmon fishing industry. Each spring, the vessel would depart San Francisco carrying fishermen and cannery workers to Alaska, returning in the fall with a cargo of salted salmon. The C.A. Thayermade annual voyages to Alaska until 1924, exemplifying the critical role such ships played in sustaining the canning industry.
The reliance on sailing ships continued until advancements in steamship technology and the expansion of railroads rendered them obsolete. However, during their operational years, these vessels were indispensable in connecting San Francisco’s workforce with Alaska’s canneries, facilitating a significant chapter in the economic and cultural history of the Pacific Coast.
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