Shellfish for the Celestial Empire The Rise and Fall of Commercial Abalone Fishing in California

"A thought-provoking case history that presents a microcosm of the broader history of Chinese immigrants in America – their vision, struggles, successes, the institutionalized and everyday racism they confronted, and the unique ways in which they helped to shape the identity of the United States."
– Pei-Lin Yu, New Mexico Historical Review

"An informative and enjoyable read for public and scientific audiences alike. Based on his research focused on the nineteenth-century commercial Chinese abalone fishing industry in California, Braje convincingly makes the argument that the deep time perspective historical ecology can provide should be embraced by marine ecologists, fisheries biologists, resource managers, and policy makers to help address modern ecological issues. [...] [The book] sends a powerful message about the immediate need for an interdisciplinary approach to our world's most pressing ecological challenges."
– California Archaeology

"This is archaeology with a purpose, committed not only to documenting the decline of an ecosystem, but also contributing to its restoration and to communicating this mission with wider academic and public audiences. This is a call to arms, addressing historical wrongs and mapping a sustainable future; it is fascinating, highly readable and recommended."
– Antiquity

"Although other authors have documented aspects of the rise and fall of commercial abalone fishing, to my knowledge none has the particular focus of Braje's book: the social context of the industry and links to a deeper history. The book will have a significant impact in the fields of conservation of marine resources and marine habitat restoration."
– Michael A. Glassow, Professor Emeritus and Research Professor, University of California, Santa Barbara

"A new and unique contribution to historical archaeology, the historical archaeologies of Chinese immigrants in the Americas, zooarchaeology, environmental archaeology, historical ecology, and western history. An innovative piece of work."
– Mark Warner, professor of anthropology and department chair, University of Idaho