Of the story told here, the Alaska individuals small businesses who can hire directly, are most likely to be up-front, honest, and actually provide a reasonably good experience for the J-1 worker. 

To say there were no qualified workers for these seasonal positions has always been part of the build-up to this situation in Alaska. I've seen it personally, where I was hired to work for a Unalaska-DutchHarbor shoreside fish processor. 

In the Anchorage office, they had all my local information. At the point of hire, (Alaska) my wages were supposed to be $5.50 p/hr including room, board, & transportation. Once I arrived at the company's Dutch Harbor office, the wage
was $2.50 per hour, had to pay $11 per day for shared room in old ship anchored in harbor, & was expected to stay extended season or pay restitution full-fare both ways. Airfare: $5,000. in 1977.

Other recent examples, 'displaced local' jobs due to prioritized Seattle Hire +wage; Princess & other tour/fish/hotel co. did it.