Crimping was the term employed for trapping someone into such service.
Crimping was a serious issue in Montreal ports but not as you might imagine.
In Montreal the term crimping was used to denote an entirely different sort of misdeed.
Crimping, in its Montreal usage from about 1850 to 1910, was the act of luring sailors to desert their ship to stay in Montreal.
In cities like Portland Oregon crimping dens were bars where managers would wait until young men got drunk or high and would then sell them into ships.
In Montreal, however, a crimping den served to do the opposite. It was a place whose owner would lure sailors and tempt them to desert.
James O'Dea, who ran a restaurant and hotel on St. Maurice, was tried in 1882 and 1899 for attempting to lure sailors into desertion. He vigorously fought the charges both times.
Here is a historical timeline of crimping as practiced in Montreal.
Montreal Gazette Tues 14 July1857 James Redmond was charged at the suit of Alexander Laverick, master of barque Coral Isle, with having, on the evening of the 7th, unlawfully enticed duly articled seamen to desert from service of said barque. Mr. Devlin appeared for the defence; he pleaded guilty. Defendant was fined in the sum of 5 pounds and costs, the whole amounting to 17 pounds 10 s. The court in delivering judgment severely admonished Defendant and said that Montreal was no place for people of his profession, and that the Courts of Justice in Montreal would most assuredly put down such practices, as they were most injurious to the commerce an good name of Montreal.
Canada Department of Marine Annual Report 1877 Crimping at the port of Montreal may be considered almost eradicated only two cases having occurred during the past season. while during the previous season ten arrests were made.The Water Police Force at Montreal during this past season one Chief Constable, four Sergeants and 20 constables.
Gazette Fri 12 Nov1880 The Department has received notice today that the Crimping and Seamans act was declared illegal this morning by Judge Casault in Chambers at Quebec
Gazette Fri 4 Aug 1882 For a considerable period there have been frequent complaints from the ship owners relative to the action of "crimes" in the ports of Montreal and Quebec. In inducing sailors to desert from their ships, and the water police have been busy in the matter for some time without any definite result being arrived at. There have been tales of sailors decoyed from their ships and only allowed to depart from those dens of iniquity when their last farthing has been wasted and the victim reduced to a state well night of imbecility through drugs and poisonous liquors of the master fiends in the houses. Information was given of a house of this character, and a warrant was at once obtained and a chance looked for. such a chance occurred last night and a party of policemen under Sergeant Nourrie entered the house, which is situated on Common street, and, apart from the nefarious business of "crimping, has enjoyed a very questionable reputation for a considerable period. On entering the premises the policemen found five sailors who had deserted from their ships and for whose arrest warrants had been obtained. They were all in a state of mental obfuscation through the effects of the ardent spirit and were quite regardless of their surroundings. They were marched to the Water Police station, and left to "sober off" prior to their appearance before the Police Magistrate. the Water Police say that there is nothing so dangerous as the system of "crimping" now in vogue in Quebec and Montreal and nothing but the most determined measures will subjugate the rising evil. Dark stories in regard to the mysterious disappearance of sailors are vaguely hinted at, and it is an established fact that most of desertion is mainly caused by the schemes and chicanery which are used to decoy unsuspected seamen. there certainly would seem to be urgent necessity for the strictest measures to put down those dens of infamy.
Gazette Tue 8 Aug 1882 The case against John O'Dea, lodging house keeper, arrested on suspicion of keeping a crimping house, was next taken up. Mr. Gethings appeared on behalf of the prosecution and the Hon. Mr. Mercier appeared for O'Dea. The evidence was of a very conflicting character in relation to the alleged inducements offered by O'Dea. Richards, the desertet, was the first witness examined, and said Mr. O'Dea had offered him a card he bearing his name and the number of his house. He called upon him and decided to leave the ship. He was of opinion that O'Dea knew he deserted. Saleslearg, the young man who shipped withe the last witness, corroborated the last witness' statements. Water constables Cullinau and Butler and Sergeant Holdbrook were also examined in relation to the arrest. The case for the Crown was left open at the request of the counsel for the production of another witness. James Patty was the first witness examined for the defence, and stated that O'Dea had offered no inducement to any f the men to come to his house, but had merely said that he could find employment for any man whose time was up and who was no bound for anytime. In his cross-examination nothing further was elicited. William Burns corroborated this witness' statement, and at the conclusion of his evidence the case was adjourned till today at ten o'clock.
Gazette Thur 12 July 1883 In the case of John Gambleton, accused of crimping the Magistrate said that the proof against the man was complete, tha tas the crime had been committed on the deck of a foreign vessel it had been committed on foreign ground and unless authority to try the case were obtained from the proper authorities in this case, the Austrian Consul, the Court had no jurisdiction, so the man must perforce be discharged.
Gazette Tue 11 July 1899 for several years the shipping interests of Montreal have suffered from the desertion of sailors and while it has long been known that some one induced them to leave, no information could be got that would lead to arrest, until yesterday, when a hotel-keeper, was taken into custody. Acting upon the complaint of Capt. Trent, of the Assyrian, two firemen, J. Connelly and a many by name Chistianson, were placed under arrest on Saturday and from this source the other arrest followed. The men claiming they had been induced to leave by the accused.
Chief Carpenter says that he has received many complaints of the abuse, which is known as crimping and from the information in his possession he believes it is much practiced. Ship captains have also complained on the other side and the matter is said to have come under the eye of the Secretary of the Colonies.
Gazette 25 July 1899 In giving his evidence Connelly said he was looking for a boarding house and was told to see James O'Dea who keeps a restaurant on St. Maurice street. He borrowed fifty cents from him but denied that the accused had made him desert the ship. Christianson told the story somewhat differently. He said he went to see O'Dea, who gave him fifty cents to go out in the country and not to come back till the ship had sailed and this with the promise that while he was then getting but $18 a month he could get $25 a month by doing as advised.
Gazette Wed 26 July 1899 James O'Dea, the accused told the court that the two sailors came to his place (restaurant on st. Maurice) late on the night of July 7 and requested permission to leave some clothes there. They did not say they were deserters but from a remark made by Connelly, the witness thought they were. However he was not certain. As was his custom he advanced them some change and paid for their cab. (The bag they left was considered collateral against the loan). But this was before they had said they would not remain overnight or before any suspicoin had been aroused. It was Connelly who remarked they might be arrested if they stayed in the hotel. Patrick O'Dea was next heard. He said he acted as bartender for his brother and denied ever having gone aboard ships to make men desert.
Gazette Sat 17 June 1906 The supply of unskilled labor is reported so short in Montreal that employers are accused of crimping sailors off the ships in the harbor. Mr. Preston should send word to his labour unions which are demanding his official scalp because he sent other immigrants than agricultural laborers to Canada.
Gazette 17 Oct. 1919 Sailors Clubs credited with easing desertion. The horros of crimping have never been adequately told but the furnishing of Sailors Clubs tended to put a period to the nefarious business by providing a place to which the sailors could go when on shore. Convinced that all that is done for the sailor is done disinterestedly, the later responds to kindly-treatment while the pictures of home that are drawn by different speakers at the nightly meetings put a lump in the throat and many are often seen to furtively wipe their eyes.