View source for Chinese Junks


<span style="color:#0066cc">'''Chinese junks'''</span> were used by the Chinese who dominated the Channel Islands abalone industry in the 19th century. By 1885, at least six junks were working the islands out of Santa Barbara, including ''Jog-On'' and ''Acme''. Many were owned and operated by Sing Chung, a prosperous merchant on East Canon Perdido Street in Santa Barbara. Additional junks came from  other ports. Known named junks operating around the Channel Islands include: ''Acme'', ''Alea'', ''Chow Lee'', ''Chromo'', ''Jog-On'', ''Sam Ac'', ''See Ling'', ''Sun Lee'', ''Ung Wa'', and ''Wam Woo''. 

'''» ''Acme'', ''Chromo'', ''Jog-On'', ''See Ling'' '''


'''September 16, 1873 [SBDMT]:''' “A party of gentlemen leave this morning at 8 o’clock to cross the channel in search of piscatorial sport. The good ship ''Star of Freedom'', the gallant Chase commanding, will bear the jolly party to the scene of action. She has been well victualed with fifty cases of wine and demijohns of assorted liquors, all of which have been duly licensed by the Internal Revenue Collector, who goes along to see that it is not retailed. The fish will be brought back in a Chinese junk. The invalids are expected to be at home again tomorrow evening. We wish them luck.”


'''December 13, 1878 [SBDP]:''' “The schooner ''Alma'' and a Chinese fishing junk are lying in the bay.”


'''April 22, 1879 [SBDP]:''' “The government steamer ''McArthur'' and sloop ''Catalina'' and a Chinese junk are the only vessels in the harbor today.”


'''June 24, 1879 [SBDP]:''' “The ''McArthur'', schooner ''N.B.'' and a Chinese fishing junk are in the harbor today.”


'''January 23, 1886 [SBDP]:''' “A Chinese junk arrived in port this morning with a cargo of fish for Sing Chung, making two junks now in port besides the schooners ''Rosita'' and ''Star of Freedom'', the latter vessel arrived from Santa Cruz Island yesterday, for freight brought down by the steamer Santa Rosa.”


'''March 17, 1886 [SBDP]:''' “Of the channel fleet, ''Angel Dolly'', a Chinese junk, the ''Annie'', and ''Ocean King'' were the only vessels in port today.”


'''November 17, 1886 [SBDP]:''' “A Chinese junk, laden with abalones, came into port yesterday from the islands.”