boarding-house keepers whose patrons were transients and laborers who were available for employment. The only written agreement or regulation in existence, roughly translated, reads as follows:

We, the members of the Japanese Hotel Keepers' Association, will maintain in good faith the following agreement:

1. Patrons shall not be charged less than 25 cents per night for lodging and not less than 15 cents per meal.

2. Storage: Trunks, 25 cents each per month; baskets and valises, 10 cents each per month.

3. Commissions to be charged as labor agencies: $5 on each Alaskan laborer, $3 on each railroad laborer, $1 on each ranch laborer.

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"of

The matter of commissions as labor agencies brings up the most important part of the business of most of the large boarding-house keepers. Hotel keeping and contracting for labor are closely related. Indeed, each of the 12 contractors now in business in San Francisco is a boarding-house keeper. In many cases the largest income is from the commissions charged as noted above (and deducted from the wages of the laborers); in these cases the keeping of the boarding house is more or less incidental to assembling a gang" laborers. One proprietor of a house of more than 30 rooms reported that his net income from the boarding and lodging business was $1,000; from commissions from laborers supplied, $2,500. Another proprietor of a house of about the same size reported a net income of $600 from boarding and lodging, $1,600 from his other business, but chiefly from commissions paid by laborers for whom work was found. The proprietor of another establishment reported a total annual income of $1,700, $500 of which was derived from his commissions. Finally, the proprietor of a comparatively small establishment reported an income of $600 from boarding and lodging and $400 from his services as a "labor agent." The importance of the business of the labor agency is thus shown.

With the exception of the proprietors of the "sailor boarding houses," the proprietors of the larger establishments have established connections with construction companies, railway companies, Japanese bosses supplying ranch laborers, and fish cannery companies. If the boarding-house keeper, who is a member of the Japanese Hotel Keepers' Association, receives an order for a given number of men and does not have them immediately at his command, he draws upon those at the command of other members of the Hotel Keepers' Association. In other words, the boarding-house keepers pool their men and cooperate in filling positions which come to them as labor agents. From this pooling arrangement the members of the association derive a gain not second to that resulting from the maintenance of uniform rates and prices.

The business of the Japanese "contractors" is much less extensive and less profitable than formerly, however. Prior to 1907, when many Japanese were arriving in San Francisco from Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, their business was very extensive. Employment was found by the contractors for most of the new arrivals. În 1906 the several contractors supplying laborers for railroad work kept from 216 to 1,500 men each employed-several thousand all told. In 1909 the number of railroad laborers supplied from San Francisco varied between 200 and 800. The number of fish cannery hands and agricultural laborers employed through and controlled

by these contractors is also smaller than before immigration was restricted. As a result of the restrictions which have been imposed, several firms have discontinued the contracting business.

As already stated, the proprietors of the "sailor boarding houses" do not serve as regular labor agents and do not charge any commission for any service they may render in securing employment for their patrons. While this is true, employers frequently apply in person at these houses for laborers of the kind to be found there.

Because of alliances with employers of different kinds of labor, the classes of laborers found in the large boarding houses differ. Practically all the laborers found at some are sailors, at others Alaskan cannery hands, at others railroad laborers or ranch hands. Moreover, in many cases most of the patrons of the boarding houses were found to have come from the same provinces as the proprietors and labor agents.

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Besides the contractors still in business, there are several employment agents. These are engaged chiefly in supplying Japanese domestics and in connection with their labor agencies frequently conduct billiard parlors and fruit and cigar stands.

TAILORS, DRESSMAKERS, AND SUIT CLEANERS.

Tailoring, dressmaking, and suit cleaning, as carried on by the Japanese, are so closely related that it is impossible to discuss them separately. In 1899 there were 5 shops where tailoring, dressmaking, and suit cleaning were carried on. In 1904 the number of shops had increased to 15, by the close of 1909 to 52. Most of the shops, however, are conducted on a very small scale, having from 1 to 3 employees at work. A very few have as many as 5 persons employed, but a much larger number are conducted by 1 man or a man and wife or by 2 or 3 partners, without the assistance of any persons employed for wages. Of 7 typical shops, 2 were conducted by the proprietor without assistance, 3 by the proprietors and 1 employee each, 1 by 2 partners and 2 employees, and 1 by the employer and 5 employees. Some shops are devoted to suit cleaning, pressing, and repair work (" renovatories "), and have no more than $150 to $400 invested in them, while the larger shops in which tailoring as well as the cleaning and other work just mentioned is carried on represent an investment of $2,000 or more. The rent per month paid in 7 cases varied from $10 as a minimum to $65 as a maximum, but in only 1 of the 7 cases did it exceed $25. From these data it may be inferred that the tailoring business as conducted by the Japanese is a case of petty trade. Three shops doing some tailoring reported that their gross business amounted to $10,000 in two cases and to $5,000 in the other case per year. The shops doing repairing, cleaning, dyeing, and pressing only reported gross earnings varying from $360 to $1,500 per year.

The Japanese shops are scattered throughout a large section of the older residence and the small shop portion of the city in which or near which the larger number of the Japanese have settled. The character of the patrons differs according to the location of the shops and also according to the amount of tailoring done. The larger number of the patrons who have pressing and related work done at these

shops are white persons, while the majority of those who have suits made to order are Japanese. In fact, in so far as tailoring and dressmaking are concerned, white patronage is so small as to be of little consequence. It is a significant fact that the proprietors of four small shops devoted to cleaning, pressing, and related work only reported that 100 per cent, 90 per cent, 40 per cent, and 30 per cent, respectively, of their patrons were white persons, while the proprietors of three shops, in which tailoring was done also, reported that 10, 30, and 35 per cent, respectively, of their patrons were members of the various white races.

That a large percentage of those having cleaning and pressing done at the Japanese shops are white persons is explained partly by convenience of location and partly by the low prices which are charged. The Japanese Suit Cleaning Union, which in February, 1909, had 23 members, has placed in effect the following scale of minimum prices, which the shops are required to adhere to:

Though this is a scale of minimum prices, the sums given are those usually charged. These are lower than the rates which have obtained in other than the poorest shops in San Francisco, with the result that the competition of the Japanese shops has been felt by others doing a similar business in the same localities.

In tailoring, on the other hand, there has been little competition. Yet it is true that the Japanese have much of their clothing made in establishments conducted by their countrymen and the number of shops has increased directly with the number of Japanese residing in San Francisco.

The profits reported by the proprietors of the small shops devoted to cleaning and pressing were $300, $720, $900, $1,200; by the other shops engaged in tailoring also, $1,440, $1,800, and $3,000, respectively, per year. The wages of tailors varied from $25 to $60 per month with board and from $40 to $80 per month without board. Of 20 men employed in Japanese shops 2 were paid $25; 2, $30; 2, $35; 1, $40; 3, $50; and 4, $60 per month with board; 3, $45, and 1, $55 per month with lodging only; and 1, $40, and 1, $80 per month with neither board nor lodging.

Reference has been made to the regulation of prices by the Japanese Suit Cleaning Union. It controls the location of shops as well, its rules providing that no two Japanese shops shall be located within 1,000 feet of each other. The union also provides for assistance to its members. Organization was not effected until the early spring of 1909. The tailors also are organized. The Tailors and Dressmakers' Union, including Japanese persons of this class in Oakland as well as in San Francisco, was organized several years ago and was incorporated under the laws of California in 1905. This organization provides that no two shops shall be located within 600 feet of each other on the same street or within 300 feet of each other on different streets. It also controls the matter of apprentice

ship, forbids the employment of persons who are not members of the union, and provides for persons who are sick, have met with accident, or are in distress.

BARBER SHOPS.

The number and prosperity of the Japanese barber shops in San Francisco has always been dependent upon the number of Japanese in the city, for the members of that race have generally not been admitted to white shops, while the Japanese shops have had few white patrons. The first Japanese shop was opened more than twenty years ago. In 1894 there were 2; in 1899, 6; în 1904, 21; at the close of the year 1908, 18. Previous to 1907 the number of Japanese in San Francisco was increasing and the number of small shops kept pace with the growth of population. Since 1907, however, the population has been decreasing and a number of the barber shops have been closed.

The Japanese shops are small, the number of chairs, as a rule, not exceeding two, and the amount of capital invested varying from $150 to $400. The earnings of three proprietors from their establishments were $600, $720, and $960; from the commissions of 10 to 20 per cent on la undry collected, $120, $480, and $100, respectively, for the year preceding the investigation. The few barbers employed are usually paid either $35 or $40 per month, in addition to which they receive board and lodging.

BATH HOUSES.

The record of Japanese bath houses is in most respects similar to that of their barber shops. In 1894 there were 2; in 1899, 8; in 1904, 10; in 1908, 13. About one-half of these are located in or near the Chinese quarter and are largely patronized by Chinese, who have no public bath houses of their own. The others are located in the Japanese residence section and are patronized by the members of that race. Frequently they are conducted in connection with boarding and lodging houses, some of which are not provided with bathing facilities."

MEN'S FURNISHING STORES.

The first establishment of this kind conducted by a Japanese was opened in 1900. By 1904 there were 8, at the close of 1908, 13 or more. More than one-half of these are very small shops, the capital invested varying from $500 to $1,500. They carry a variety of cheap goods, and their patrons are almost exclusively Japanese. The larger shops have several thousand dollars, in one case as much as $11,000, invested in Japanese and American goods carried in stock. Like the smaller shops, they find most of their patrons among the Japanese.

JEWELRY AND WATCH REPAIRING.

The first of the jewelry and watch repairing shops opened by a Japanese dates from the year 1900 or somewhat earlier. In 1904 they numbered 4; at the close of the year 1908, 7. Of these, 4 were investigated. With one exception the amount of capital employed, the

" Nine of the 13 are connected either with hotels and boarding houses or barber shops or with both.

volume of annual transactions, and the amount of profit were small. All but 1 were conducted without hired assistance, and in this case only 1 person was employed for wages, a watchmaker, at $30 per month, with board and lodging. The amount of capital employed in the 4 shops was $1,000, $1,300, $2,300, and $7,500, respectively. The profits realized for the year were $900, $900, $1,680, and $3,000, respectively, for the 4 shops in the order mentioned above. In one case the patronage of white persons was reckoned at 15, in the other cases at 10 per cent of the total. The significant facts relating to this branch of business are that most of the shops are small and engaged in repair work chiefly; that their patronage by white persons is so small as to be unimportant, but that they are sufficiently numerous to supply the greater number of the Japanese with such watches, clocks, and jewelry as there is demand for among them.

ART GOODS STORES.

The most important branch of business engaged in by Japanese in San Francisco, from the point of view of white patrons, is the conduct of art stores. In 1898 some 20 of these were devoted to selling brass ware, toys, china, etc. By 1904 the number had increased to 40; by the close of 1909 to 42. The majority of these carry stocks of goods valued at several thousand dollars, and practically all of the patrons are white persons. The articles sold have never been carried in stock to any great extent by white dealers. In San Francisco there are, however, many Chinese stores of the same type, and the patronage is shared by these two Asiatic races.

PROVISION AND GROCERY STORES.

The number of Japanese provision and grocery stores has rapidly increased in recent years. In 1904, 10 were reported; in 1909 there were 22. Most of these are comparatively small stores, employ a few thousand dollars of capital, deal largely in Japanese goods, and are patronized chiefly by Japanese. A few of these stores, however, are large supply houses and have much capital invested in their business, most of which is with Japanese outside of San Francisco. The percentage of American goods sold is about 50; the percentage of white patrons varies from 5 to 25.

OTHER STORES.

There are many other small stores, most of them patronized almost exclusively by Japanese. Among these are 8 book_stores, selling books, stationery, and notions; 3 drug stores, selling Japanese drugs and notions; 7 confectioners' shops, selling the confections manufactured by them, fruit, etc.; 4 fish dealers and 1 butcher, selling fish and meat to persons of their own race almost exclusively; a few fruit stands, and a sake (liquor) store. In no case do these have any particular significance save that through them the Japanese are enabled to satisfy their wants while dealing with persons of their own race.

a Some other establishments also sell drugs.
Several provision stores also sell sake.