Los Angeles County |
China Cove,
Los Angeles County.
China
Cove is near the southwestern end of San Clemente Island. Extensive
archeological evidence suggests Chinese occupancy of the island until 1900. The Chinese
were mostly abalone fishermen. They would pry the abalone from the rocks, remove the
meat, tenderize it by pounding it and then boil it in a large kettle. After cooking, the meat was sun dried,
sacked, and shipped to San Francisco where most of it would be sent to China. The abalone
shells
were sold throughout the United States, France and to Germany that specialized in the manufacture of abalone jewelry and buttons. Presently administered by the United States
Navy, the island is
not open to the public. See
China Point, San Clemente Island, Los Angeles County. Reference:
Axford
1977:
28-29; Daily 1987: 45-46,178.
|
China Point, Los
Angeles County.
(1) China Point was a site of Chinese fishing activity on San Clemente
Island. It is on the south side
of China Cove. Before
1934, there
was widespread sheep ranching on the island. See China Cove, Los
Angeles County.
Reference: Daily 1987: 178; United States Geological Survey 1980.
(2) China Point is on the westernmost part of Santa Catalina Island. Reportedly, it was a place where illegal Chinese immigrants who were being returned to China were dropped off so that they could be smuggled back to the mainland. It is of note that in the earlier days, the Chinese apparently did not take part in the gold rush that took place on the island. Today, 86% (42,135 acres) of the island is privately owned by the Santa Catalina Island Conservancy, a nonprofit foundation established in 1972. The island is unique among the Channel Islands because of its urban development, the City of Avalon. Reference: Daily 1987: 186, 189, 190; United States Geological Survey 1950. |
Santa Barbara County.
China Bay, Santa Barbara County.
China Bay was an early name for today's
Chinese Harbor on Santa Cruz Island. See Chinese Harbor, Santa Barbara County.
China Camp, Santa Barbara County.
China Camp is on the southwestern side of
Santa Rosa Island. The site most likely dates to the late 1850's when the area
was under the ownership of the Moore family. Chinese fishermen, possibly from the Sing Hop Company, Sun Lung Company or Sing Chung Company, established a permanent, but illegal, camp at that location. All that remains is a four-room wooden
house. The island is presently part of the Channel Islands National Park. See Santa Rosa Island Chinese Fishing
Camps, Santa
Barbara County. Reference:
Bentz 1997: 134-135; Daily 1987: 222-223, 236-238.
China
Harbor, Santa
Barbara County.
This is another name for Chinese Harbor on
Santa Cruz Island. See Chinese Harbor, Santa
Barbara County.
Barbara County.
Chinese Cabin, Santa Barbara County.
A Chinese lobster fisherman had a cabin on
Santa Barbara Island in 1897. The structure was referred to as Chinese Cabin. It was located above Landing Cove, accessible only by a wooden bridge. Reference: Daily 1987: 66.
Chinese Harbor, Santa Barbara
County.
Chinese Harbor forms a large bay on the
northern side of the southern end of Santa Cruz Island. A site of a Chinese abalone fishing camp, its somewhat protected location made it a favorable anchorage during northwesterly winds. The harbor is also a spot where driftwood from Santa Rosa and San Miguel Island would collect. Thus, there was abundant fire wood for abalone processing. Japanese fishermen occupied the area by 1909. Reference: Eaton
1980: 51, 116, 136,
176; Manson 1999. Photo
Chinese Point, Santa Barbara
County.
Chinese Point is a small finger of land
extending seaward in a northwest direction on the northwest portion of San Miguel Island. The Chinese resided on the island and fished its waters from the mid-1800's into the early 1900's. Presently, the National Park Service
manages and preserves the scientific and cultural value of the island. However, it is under the jurisdiction of the United States Navy. Reference:
Daily 1987: 108, 122, 123.
Santa Rosa Island Chinese Fishing Camps, Santa Barbara
County.
Archaeological research indicates that there
were at least three unnamed Chinese fishing camps on Santa Rosa Island;
(1) There was a camp on the south side of
the island, just west of a site called Johnson's Lee.
(2) Another camp was located on the
southwest promontory of the island, just east of Sandy Point.
(3) An additional camp was near China Camp
which is further west of Johnson's Lee and just east of Cluster Point. See China Camp, Santa Barbara County.
Reference: Bentz 1997: 140-141.
Ventura County
Chinese Fisherman Shack, Ventura County.
A Chinese fisherman had a crudely built
structure on the westernmost island in the string of small rocky islands
collectively known as Anacapa Island. The shack dated to 1884. Reference: Daily
1987: 97.
Chinese Harbor, Ventura County.
Chinese Harbor is on San Nicolas Island. It
was the site of a Chinese abalone fishing camp. A small cabin with stone walls was still
evident in 1897. Presently,
the harbor is known as Corral Harbor. Reference: Bentz 1997: 141; Daily 1987:
15l.
References
Axford, 1. Michael. 1977. "Current Research: Pacific West-California." Society for Historical Archaeology Newsletter 10(2): 28-29.
Bentz, Linda. 1997. "Chinese Fishermen
of Santa Barbara and Santa Rosa Island."
Chinese America: History and Perspectives, 1997: 129-147.
Daily, Marla. 1987. California's Channel Islands. Santa Barbara: McNally &
Loftin, Publishers.
Eaton, Margaret Holden. 1980. Dairy of a Sea
Captain's Wife. Santa Barbara:
McNally
& Loftin, West.
Manson, Lawrence H. 1999. February 16,
Professor and Surf Rider Foundation
board member. Correspondence.
United State Geological Survey. 1980. San Clemente
Island South Quadrangle. 7.5 Minute Series.
_____ .
1950. Santa
Catalina South Quadrangle. 7.5 Minute Series.