CANNING INDUSTRY RANKS FIRST IN CALIFORNIA FOR VALUE OF PRODUCTS – According to the latest figures (from 1914 – ed.) from the UNITED STATES DEPT. of COMMERCE, the canning and preserving industry ranks first in California for the value of products and second for the average number of wage earners. ~ The canning and preserving industryin 1914 GAVE EMPLOYMENT TO THE LARGEST AVERAGE NUMBER OF FEMALES(16 years of age and over), this number being1/3 of the *entire* female wage-earners in ALL manufacturing industries in the entire state of California!
(*Source: 1914 statistics published in Western Canner & Packer 1917 Annual [published by Miller Freeman Publications of California, the same as Pacific Fisherman magazine] – September, Vol. 9 – Pg. 20)
*Editorial Note: (IMHO) Too often an overlooked influence is the vital importance (at least in the PA community of San Diego) that female employment at (mostly fish) canneries contributed to these immigrant families ability to “take root” in their new country, afford housing, and raise their families; despite most having limited educations, difficulty with English language fluency, and limited transportation options. That fact that most of these ladies also worked and were paid by their “piece work” (meaning they were paid by *individual production* output, i.e. pass/fail) as their husbands, sons, and brothers were also paid by “shares” (i.e. the price paid for a trip’s catch, divided up into ‘shares’ [after expenses were first deducted], but also risking getting “skunked” [i.e. NOT getting paid!] if fish can’t be found, caught, and correctly preserved; or even if the vessel might break down or sink!? A ‘High Risk’ profession, indeed.