The Pacific Coast Maritime Shipping Industry, 1930-1948

The Pacific Coast Maritime Shipping Industry, 1930-1948: Volume I: An Economic Profile offers a meticulous examination of an industry pivotal to the economic and historical development of the United States' West Coast. Spanning nearly two decades, the book explores the fluctuations in cargo tonnage, vessel arrivals, and employment levels that characterized the maritime shipping industry during a period marked by economic depression, global conflict, and post-war readjustment. Against the backdrop of strikes, labor disputes, and shifting trade dynamics, the authors craft a detailed narrative that highlights the industry’s struggles to adapt to post-war realities, including its failure to sustain pre-war levels of activity despite the West Coast's broader economic boom. The study serves both as an economic history and a methodological guide, addressing the challenges of reconstructing the industry's performance through fragmented and inconsistent data. By focusing on key metrics such as cargo tonnage and vessel activity, the authors reveal the underlying trends and structural issues that plagued the industry. This first volume lays the groundwork for a deeper exploration of the causes behind these patterns, promising a comprehensive analysis in the subsequent volume. It is an indispensable resource for economists, historians, and policymakers seeking to understand the economic and social forces shaping maritime commerce in the mid-20th century. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1952.