Chinese Junks
Chinese junks 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.
In the News~
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.”
October 14, 1873 [SBMP]: “Departures. October 8th, Chinese junk, to the island.”
July 18, 1877 [SBMP]: “A Chinese junk is the only boat in the harbor at present.”
January 17, 1878 [SBMP]: “Among the small craft damaged and damaging, during the storm, was a Chinese junk of about three tons, wich ran into and under the wharf on one side, carrying away some piling, and then, being caught by a counter current, turned and carried away some more as it went through again.”
November 13, 1878 [SBDP]: “A Chinese junk arrived yesterday and cast anchor in the channel.”
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.”
December 13, 1878 [SBDP]: “The Chinese junk is the only boat at anchor, and from the way she is rolling today, she will go to the bottom or ashore soon.”
January 2, 1879 [SBDP]: “A rotten Chinese junk, moored further inshore, was also torn loose from its anchorage and carried against the wharf, the collision breaking her up. The fragments went through between the piles without injury to them, and through the old whatf, landing high and dry on the beach near Arnold's bath house. She is a total wreck.”
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.”
