Price 10c per copy, $4.00 a year
an
Vol. XXVI. No. 29
VANCOUVER, B.C.. SEPTEMBER 6. 1963
—Williams Bros, photo
UNION'S PNE FLOAT
One of the top issues facing the BC fishing industry formed the theme of this year's entry by the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union in Vancouver's PNE parade. The slogan states the Union's basic stand which is for a four nation Pacific fisheries treaty giving genuine protection to BC salmon, halibut, and herring stocks. Negotiations between the US, Japan, and Canada are slated to start September 16 in Tokyo but to be effective, the UFAWU contends, the treaty must include the Soviet Union.
Full Marine Inquiry Into Tragic Mishap
Sought by UFAWU
'Western Girl' Crewman Killed by US Freighter
The United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union has formally requested federal transport minister George Mc-llraith to institute a Marine Court of Inquiry under the Canada Shipping Act to investigate "as thoroughly as possible" an accident in Juan de Fuca Strait last month that took the life of a seine boat fisherman.
The request followed thef finding of a coroner's jury in Vancouver August 31 that the
Union Raps Canners For Arbitration Delay
area, was in the process of making a set, with Asbjorn Brattli and Ray Bak aboard the 22 foot skiff with its 145 horsepower engine, towing the net.
Captain Kurt Larson and his crew observed the freighter heading down into the Strait when she
See MARINE INQUIRY SOUGHT — Page 8
death of Western Girl crew man Asbjorn Brattli was "unnatural and classified as accidental caused by the US freighter Horace Luckenbach failing to keep clear."
Brattli, 39, and Ray Bak were in the Western Girl's skiff while the seiner was making a set off Car-m.mah Point on the morning of August 20 when the freighter bore down on them at an estimated 15 knots.
Despite warning whistles and flashing lights from the Western Girl,   the   Luckenbach   continued ,
on course at full speed toward the ! member companies of the Fsheries skiff' untO the last possible mo- i Association are paying or going to mint. She went into reverse and I Pay, retroactive wages to shore-swung over, cutting the towline ! workers and tendermen at four and as she appeared to be about j Percent as contained in the last to  ram the  skiff,  the  two  men company   offer   made during
ASBJORN BRATTLI
. . . victim of tragic mishap in Juan de Fuca Strait.
Shore, Packer Crews Get Retroactive Pay
Word   has   been   received  that f ciation a letter outlining its position in favor of retroactive pay-
jumped overboard.
A special bulletin issued by j and Association which so far the United Fishermen and Al- j has failed to get off the ground, lied Workers last week, out-i "All arguments (over what lines the situation in the proposed arbitration of contract differences between the Union
RgH PRICES
Seattle
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 HALIBUT
Chix ...........„-......................._ lb. 18c
Medium     _........................ lb. 22.7c
Large ........ lb. 24c
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 BAY FISH EXCHANGE (Troll Prices)
SPRINGS
Large red lb. 67c
Medium red lb. 47c
Small red lb. 37c
Large white lb. 42c
PINK lb. 15c
COHO lb. 35c
Vancouver
WEDNESDAY,   SEPTEMBER 4
HALIBUT Chix lb. 18-20c
Medium lb. 23-23.3c
Large lb. 22.9-23.3c
WEEK ENDING AUGUST 31
SPRINGS
Large red _______ lb. 78-80c
Madium red ...... ......_ lb. 62c
Small red _________ lb. 45c
Tiny red ............... lb. 39c
Large white .......... lb. 57-60c
Small white lb. 43-45c
COHO .....__ lb. 43-46c
PINKS lb. 20-22c
OTHER SPECIES
Sole ............ lb. 6-9c
Red and rock cod _     lb. 3'A-IOc
Ling cod (trawl) ______ lb. 12-13c
Ling cod (troll) _       lb. 11-14c
Ling cod (live) __________........ lb. 14c
Grey cod ___________________.....lb. 7c
Black cod lb. 18-20c
Shrimp meat lb. $1.20
Minkfeed , lb. 2 Vic
Crab in shell ..... lb. $2.50-$4.00
Crab meat lb. $1.20
Prince Rupert
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
HALIBUT
Chix--.-------lb 16-17c
Medium _______ lb. 21-21.9c
Large lb. 21-23c
WEEK ENDING AUGUST 31
SPRINGS
Large red ___________________ lb. 72-78c
Medium red ____________ lb. 52-58c
Small red lb. 38c
Large white __________ lb. 51c
Medium white ...........,________       lb. 36c
Ketchikan
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 HALIBUT
Chix lb. He
Medium _ lb. 19-i9.2c
Large lb. 20-20.2c
RED SPRING
Large ...........-........ lb. 68c
Medium lb. 35c
Small ................. |b. 25c
WHITE SPRING
Large ____......._ |b. 40c
Small lb. 20c
COHO lb. 20-26-30c
Juneau
WEDNESDAY HALIBUT
Chix
Medium
Large RED SPRING
Large |b. 70c
Medium -------......._________ lb. 35c
Small _ lb. 25c
WHITE SPRING
Large
Small COHO
should be arbitrated) can be resolved now by arbitration," the Union declares. "There is no need for delay."
But delay appears to be the chief characteristic of company procedure since the fleet started fishing August 4.
In its bulletin, the Union points out that on August 9 it proposed "a fair and direct method of resolving the differences over what should be included in arbitration. We proposed that, after hearing the Union's argument and the Fisheries Association argument, the arbiter, Mr. Justice V. L. Dryer, make a final and binding decision."
This was at a meeting before the arbiter in the Vancouver Court House attended by Union counsel several Union representatives, and counsel for the Fisheries Association. None of the company spokesmen was present.
NO COMMENT
The Union's proposal to allow the arbiter to decide terms and scope of arbitration was received by Association counsel M. M. MacFar-lane but not commented on at the time.
Brattli was apparently cut by the freighter's propeller and was taken [ aboard  the  fisheries department patrol vessel Howay. He was pro-He has since written that  the I nounced dead on arrival in Vic-
negotiations.
This decision was apparently taken at approximately the same time as the Union wrote the Asso-
ments at the four percent rate.
Companies had earlier indicated they would withhold the back pay pending initialling of agreements setting out terms of their last offer.
See BACK PAY — Page 2
Association "does not agree to the proposed submission which you presented in draft form to the Hon. Mr. Justice Dryer."
In view of the fact that no reasons were given for this stand by canners, the Union through legal counsel John Stanton has asked for an explanation.
In its bulletin to the membership, the Union recalls that on August 1, federal fisheries minister H. J. Robichaud wired as follows: "If both parties cannot reach agreement as to scope of arbitration, we suggest final decision would be at the discretion of arbiter."
See ARBITRATION — Page 8
toria. Bak, 41, suffered from exposure but was otherwise uninjured.
CLEAR MORNING
Crewmen of the Western Girl related the events surrounding the tragedy to The Fisherman.
It was 10:25 on the morning of Tuesday, August 20, when the accident occurred in Juan de Fuca Strait off Bonilla Point approximately 2% miles from the Canadian shore.
The weather was clear and calm —"as flat as you'll ever see it out there," one of the crewmen observed, with a visibility of 15 miles.
The Western Girl, one of approximately 100 seiners operating in the
Abstention Retention Aim of US Fish Groups
SEPTEMBER 4
--------- lb. 13c
lb. 18c lb. 19c
----- lb. 40c
-......- lb. 20c
lb. 24-28-32C
Union Gives, And Receives
One letter of thanks for a donation of salmon and two letters enclosing cheques for the UFAWU strike fund have reached Union headquarters during the past couple of weeks.
The letter of appreciation came from T. Carlson of the Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association for "a gift of a large quantity of salmon from you and your members. That this was very much appreciated by our guests for its tastefulness was testified to by the way they enjoyed it. That we, as concerned for the wellbeing of our senior citizens, are doubly grateful to you goes without doubt," Carlson said. "Please accept our sincere thanks for your contribution."
The cheques came from Local 524, United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America, and the Canadian Seafood Workers Union.
Seafood Workers Union president Roy Keefe enclosed four cheques totalling $175. "I hear your strike is over for the time being and that the dispute has been referred to an arbitration board" he wrote. "On behalf of the Canadian Seafood Workers Union, we sincerely hope you will be successful."
UE Local 524 recording secretary Peter How sent a $100 cheque from his Local with best wishes for a satisfactory settlement.
Giske Succeeds Hager On Norpac Commission
IWA Sets Dates For Conventions
International Woodworkers of America will hold its twenty third international convention at the Bayshore Inn, Vancouver, September 16-20, it is announced.
Following the international convention, Western Canadian Region No. 1 will hold its twenty sixth convention at Woodworkers' House. Vancouver, October 8-11.
Appointment of Carl Giske, president of Prince Rupert Fishemen's Cooperative Association, as a commissioner on the Canadian section of the International North Pacific-Fisheries Commission, succeeding Roger T. Hager, president of Canadian Fishing Company, recalls Hager's reported threat to resign earlier this year if North Pacific Fisheries Treaty amendments recommended by the Commission were not ratified by Canada.
Announcement of Giske's appointment for a two year term and reappointment of the other two Canadian commissioners was made at Ottawa last week by fisheries minister H. J. Robichaud.
James Cameron of Madeira Park was reappointed for a two year term and John H. Buchanan, president of BC Packers, was reappointed for a one year term.
In April this year, when the campaign led by the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union against the recommended amendments compelled the former Conservative government to defer action on ratification, Hager assailed the Union's policy as being: "Hate the United States, to hell with Japan, but never mention the Soviets."
He  further  incensed organised fishermen by claiming that "not one in one thousand of them has ever read the Treaty." RESIGNATION ASKED
Following the narrow defeat of the minority Conservative government, and formation of the minority Liberal government, the Union commented on Hager's attack in a memorandum submitted to newly appointed fisheries minister H. J. Robichaud.
Noting that Hager had threatened to resign if the government failed to ratify opening of east Bering Sea halibut and west coast Queen Charlottes herring fisheries to Japan, the memorandum stated:
"Our general executive board and standing committee on fisheries have unanimously proposed that Mr. Hager's immediate resignation be requested by your government.
"We believe it is intolerable that an appointed commissioner should attempt to dictate to the people of Canada.
"Moreover, when he deliberately distorts the position of the organised fishermen and lies to the pub-
lic, he can no longer properly represent Canada on any international body.
"We do not agree with any suggestion, regardless of its source, that Canada should ratify proposals which severely affect our resources in order to avoid embarrassment to any person or persons appointed to act for Canada on such commissions . . ."
Hager served as a commissioner for 10 years, from the time the commission was formed in 1953 until his final term expired in June this year.
SPECIAL ADVISER
Giske was appointed as one of two special advisers to the Canadian section of the Commission on the eve of preliminary discussions on renegotiation of the Treaty at Washington last June.
At that time, Robichaud came under fire in the House of Commons for naming the two special advisers for the Washington talks after he had already named a representative six member industry committee, including UFAWU secretary Homer Stevens, to advise it during negotiations with the US and Japan.
The Treaty talks, which were adjourned inconclusively in June, will be resumed in Tokyo on September 16.
Chairman of the Canadian section and currently chairman of the Commission is Dr. A. W. H. Needier, deputy fisheries minister, who was appointed after former deputy fisheries minister George R. Clark
Retention of the abstention prin ciple in the North Pacific Fisheries Treaty is the primary demand of the   Pacific   Fisheries Protection Committee, formed in Seattle last
the US considered abstention to be the guiding principle of the Treaty and would insist on its retention.
Despite Udall's statement, the fishing industry in the US North-
week by six industry organisations. I west has not been reassured by The Committee, established at a | the tjs and Canadian stand at the
last meeting of the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission, which supported Japan's demand for entry into the east Bering Sea halibut fishery and removal of herring off the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands from stocks under abstention.
John McCallum, temporary chairman of the Pacific Fisheries Pro-
meeting on August 30 to insist on a firm US stand when Treaty discussions resume in Tokyo September 16, is composed of the Deep Sea Fishermen's Union, Fishermen's Cooperative Association of Seattle, Fishermen's Marketing Association of Washington, Fishing Vessel Owners Association, Halibut Producers Cooperative, and Northwest Fisheries Association.
On the same day, the Associa- %£™st weeTuiaT ope'ninfof the ion of Pacific Fisheries, through ^J*&*^"*»
tion
its president, Stanley Tarrant of Bellingham, Wash., called on the US and Canada to withstand Japanese pressure for relaxation or abandonment of abstention in renegotiating the Treaty.
"Without abstention there would be economic ruin for salmon fishermen, processors and allied industries," Tarrant warned.
"This would be most immediately felt in Alaska, but the effect could be spread throughout many areas of the west coast."
US STAND STATED
Three days earlier, US interior the BC Federation of Labor has secretary Stewart L. Udall had is- been announced for November 12-sued a statement declaring that 16 in the Hotel Vancouver.
eastern Bering Sea to Japanese halibut fleets had jeopardised halibut stocks there as well as in other areas.
In addition to influencing the Treaty talks, the Committee proposes to study a number of questions currently disturbing the US industry, including US imports of canned salmon and tuna, and US use of Japanese netting.
Labor Parley Set
The eighth annual convention of
Three Million Salmon Given $500 Price Tag
In the first such case to come  around 250,000, as reported in The
before a court in this country Leslie Kerr, chief pilot for Skyway Air Services of Langley, was fined a total of $500 at Kamloops August 29 for spraying poisonous chemicals into Shuswap and Little Shuswap lakes.
The charges against Kerr arose from spraying for mosquito control carried out under provincial government grants, including one from the recreation and conservation department, on July 7 and 9.
The spray killed an estimated three million sockeye and spring salmon fry and fingerlings in Shuswap Lake, Little River and Little Shuswap Lake.
Earlier, fisheries department of-died while attending a Commission ficials had estimated the number meeting in Tokyo last February, of young   salmon  killed to be
Woodwards Slough Members 100 Percent Paid Up, Clear
All members of Woodwards Slough Local of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union are fully paid up in their dues and all clear with the Union.
Names of Local members and their vessels are as follows:
Azalea, Toivo Boren; Carol Don, Jack Hill; Caballero, Andrew E. Jacobson; Louise, Aune Jacobson; Sea Lion, Thomas Jacobson; Fraser Clipper, Sigurd Swenns; My Sea-biscuit, Kusti Tyback; Eva, Henry Jacobson; Wavelet, Jack Jacobson; Doria, Carlo Houvinen; Jeep, Inez Houvinen; Patricia, Augustus Jacobson; Harem Queen, Tom Ross; Little Eagle, Bob Jones.
Martin Hill and John Karen have also cleared but their boats have no names.
Fisherman August 2, although residents who reported the incident to the department insisted the figure was much higher. The story was originally reported in The Fisherman on July 19 with Al Syverson saying that 250,000 had been killed in Little Shuswap alone.
The official estimate was revised upward after scientists from the department and the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission went to Squilax to conduct an investigation.
When Kerr appeared before Magistrate D. M. MacDonald in Kamloops magistrate's court he pleaded guilty and was fined $250 on each of two counts under the water pollution section of the Fisheries Act. Similar charges against Skyway Air Services were withdrawn.
His guilty plea cut short a case for which the prosecution had lined up 13 witnesses to substantiate its charges that the spraying had killed the salmon fry and finger-lings. Evidence given showed that the chemical DDT had been found in water samples and in dead fish.
Defence counsel J. Douglas Porta said Skyway Air Services had been using the spray — one eighth of a pound of DDT added to an emul-sifier and fuel oil for each acre sprayed — for more than six years without any indication it was toxic to fish.
Kerr, he added, was an expert in this field and did much of the Company's contract work for government departments.