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Vol. XXIX, No. 27 H^>210 CENTS VANCOUVER, B.C., SEPTEMBER 2, 1966
FISHERIES DISPLAY
Popular attraction at the PNE this year was a miniature artificial spawning channel containing sockeye, coho, and springs. It was too early for any of them to spawn but with a pictorial display and fisheries department representatives on hand to tell the salmon story, the project was highly successful in giving the public a chance to see what is being done to rebuild the fisheries. It was sponsored by the federal fisheries department.
NDP's Bob Clair Backs Union Fisheries Stand
BOB CLAIR
NDP candidate in Little Mountain speaks out for fishing industry. His running mate is Joe Corsbie, well known member of GAFF Credit Union.
A strong stand for a full fledged provincial fisheries department and a minister of fisheries was expressed this week by Bob Clair, NDP candidate in Vancouver - Little Mountain.
Clair, editor of The Barker, official organ of Local 217, International Woodworkers of America, said he was convinced British Columbia could play a far larger role than at present in the fishing industry.
"It is ridiculous that a province which depends so much on fisheries should allocate a mere $32,872 to this important aspect of its work," he declared.
He expressed full support for the UFAWU demand that a sum in the neighborhood of $2 million annually should be spent by the BC government to acquire personnel and carry out projects aimed at expanding the BC fishing industry.
Area 1 Yields Good Pink Run
Area 1 of the Queen Char- ports from 34 gillnetters in 3Z the
hne Mands provided excd-)™ ftn^S^oS
spring
"It seems to me," he said, "that a fully functioning British Columbia department with a full time minister and a decent budget could conduct its own fisheries programs and stimulate additional help from the federal government.
"I can see no reason why the province shouldn't work to improve spawning grounds, to push into offshore fisheries by promoting a deep sea fleet, help establish markets for fisheries products, undertake training courses for fishermen, and do a great many other things designed to improve the fisheries."
PROTECTION SEEN
Clair also noted that a strong voice in Victoria would not only exercise considerable weight with Ottawa but would offer some assurance that the fisheries resource would be protected from errors, oversights, and plain neglect by other departments.
He cited the case of the Stel-lako log drive which, he said, could not happen with a minister dedicated to guarding the fisheries resource.
"The Social Credit government," Clair said, "has left the fishing industry to fend for itself whereas
See CLAIR — Page 12
lent pink fishing Sunday, August 28, but tapered off the following day, indicating the run there has just about wound up for the season.
The catch Sunday night by a fleet of 34 seines and 21 gillnets totalled 335,000 but incomplete reports for Monday's fishing showed a catch of only 61,000 pinks
The area was a heavy producer (gvUw>«m averaged one sockeye,
this season, however, the current catch added to the total to August 27 — some 649,000 — bringing 1965 landings to over a million.
In Area 3X on August 29, three gillnetters averaged 50 springs and 11 coho while in 3Y on the same day, 26 gillnetters averaged 14 coho, 24 pinks, and six springs.
Fifteen gillnetters the same day in overlapping sections of 3Y and 3Z averaged 23 coho, 15 pinks, nine chums and one spring. Re-
On the same day in Portland Canal, 19 gillnetters averaged 40 coho, one pink, and 55 chums. SKEENA AREA
Turning to the Skeena River on August 30, 48 gillnetters averaged one sockeye, 20 coho, 16 pinks, and one chum, reflecting the declining pink run. On the same day in the North Boundary, 30
two coho, 27 pinks, and two chums.
In the E d y e Pass - Chatham Sound section of Area 4 on August 30, a fleet of 38 gillnetters averaged one sockeye, 10 coho, and 55 pinks.
In Area 5 on August 29, in the Wright Sound-Lewis Channel-Squally Channel portion, 34 gillnetters averaged one sockeye, 20
See SALMON CATCHES — Page 12
No Opening In Seymour
Pacific area director of fisheries W. R. Hourston has turned down a Union request for a trial two day opening of Seymour Inlet, which has been closed for the past eight years.
The matter was raised by local fishermen who asked for the opening to determine whether salmon were moving in as they believed them to be.
Hourston said a meeting of fishery officers at Campbell River August 30 reported there was no sign of^ any volume of fish and recommended the area remain closed.
In arguing the case with the department, Union secretary Homer Stevens called for at least a one day opening after the two day request was rejected to determine whether the observations of fishermen were correct.
Herring Pay Out of Line
Report Shows Big Lag Behind Average Wages
If the labor rate for herring fishermen had kept pace with the rising average wage in BC manufacturing industries since 1949, it should have been S29.56 a ton in July this year.
Merely to have r e m a i n e d^' abreast of increased living costs,
which have risen rapidly in recent months, it should have been $18.06% a ton as of June.
But since November 1965 the actual rate has been $17.40 a ton, a cold fact which brings little comfort to the herring fishermen who find inflated prices cutting down their living standards.
These figures, compiled by the Trade Union Research Bureau, will be considered by the herring continuations committee when it holds its first meeting on September 10 to prepare its recommendations for the herring membership meeting to be held Saturday, September 17 at 1 p.m. in Fishermen's Hall.
The Bureau's figures show that herring meal prices have fallen slightly from their peak in the fall of 1965 and the first three months of this year, but oil prices have risen slightly above the 1965 level.
MARGIN HIGH
At the same time, the companies' margin for other than labor costs, including profits, stood at $38.31 in July this year, only a little below the peak figures reached in September and October, 1965.
Air Search For Troller
A sea and air search is being made on the west coast for Edward Schroeder, 53 year old North Surrey fisherman and long time member of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union, whose 42 foot troller Namu was found anchored with no one aboard at Steamer Cove in Shelter Inlet on August 29.
RCMP at Tofino said they believed the vessel, which had a partial load of fish, had been anchored in the cove since August 27. The wheelhouse door was op«n. the skiff was still aboard and lifesaving equipment intact.
Schroeder, an experienced halibut, herring and tuna fisherman for the past 20 years, bought the 'roller, reportedly his first boat, only a few months ago.
"Since the establishment of the $17.40 per ton labor rate in November, 1965, the margin left for other costs and profits has varied from $37.47 per ton to $40.42," the Bureau notes.
"A year ago, in July, 1965, the total return per landed ton of herring was $55.01 compared to $55.71 in July, 1966. However, since the labor rate increased by $2.92 a ton, the margin left for profit and other costs dropped from $40.53 to $38.31.
"It should be pointed out that the margin available is still considerably in excess of the margins that have existed over the past seven years ..."
Figures presented by the Bureau also show that the percentage of the labor rate to the total value of a landed ton of herring was 27.8 percent in 1965, lowest since 1960.
At the end of July this year, the quoted price for a ton of herring meal was $203.02 in Canadian funds f.o.b. Vancouver, down from $204.12 in July, 1965.
Price for a pound of oil was 10.5 cents in Canadian funds f.o.b. Vancouver, up from 9.75 -10.25 cents in July, 1965.
Port Hardy Plant Union
The United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union has been certified as bargaining agent for employees at the Port Hardy Plant of Seafood Products Ltd. and has written the Company this week to open negotiations.
It is understood that the Company is applying wage provisions covered under the standard contract in other industry operations but such matters as the Shore-workers' Welfare Plan, grievance procedure, and checkoff are also involved.
The Union has supplied the Company with copies of the standard agreement and will seek to have it signed.
Peter Van Snellenberg Jr. is in charge of this aspect of the Company's operations and at last word he was at the Port Hardy plant.
The certification covers all employees except supervisory and office staff at the northern Vancouver Island operation.
SEPTEMBER 8, 9, 10
Advance Absentee Facts For Fishermen's Vote
Election day is September 12 but fishermen who expect to be out of town that day are permitted to vote in the advance poll of September 8, 9, and 10.
Moreover, fishermen away from their home port on September 8, 9, or 10 who expect to be fishing on election day may vote absentee on either of the three advance polling days between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. daily.
And if they happen to be in a voting area other than their own on election day, they may vote absentee with the ballot to be counted in their home riding.
Here are the possibilities that might arise:
• A Prince Rupert voter on a Vancouver boat will be fishing on election day but will be in Vancouver September 8, 9, or 10. He may go to any advance polling station as listed in the daily press and cast his ballot.
• A Prince Rupert voter may be out fishing September in which case he may vote at the advance polling station in his area.
These are only examples to show how fishermen may he able to cast their ballots.
The only advance polling station we have been able to establish in Vancouver is at 2735 Cambie Street, the old Normal School'at 12th Avenue for the Greater Vancouver area. In New Westminster it is at 26 Lome Street in the Hart Block for New Westminster and Coquitlam.
Since the information is being supplied on a local basis through local media, we can only suggest that fishermen and others affected check their papers or phone their local returning officer for details of local advance polling places.
Vote on September 8, 9, 10, or 12.