Shanghaiing Sailors

Shanghaiing, the forcing of a man to sail on a merchant ship against his will, plagued the seafaring world between 1849 and 1915. Shanghaiing existed because of a confluence of events involving the opium trade, tea, gold, and the opening of the Suez Canal. A shortage of sailors and the unwillingness of seamen to set foot on certain types of ships were also issues. Seamen suffered from great deprivations, all for a paltry sum usually squandered during shore leave.