rtg9£$j| Price 10c per cop'
hi ■ ■
py, $3.50 a year
IN COMBINES PROBE
Tfie n/nerman Full Inquiry, All Data
Kepresenting the Organised ttshermen and Shoreworkers of British Columbia gf m
Plus Public Hearings
VOL. XXI. No. 32.
VANCOUVER, B.C., SEPTEMBER 18, 1959
W6LL THCHftRT SAYS fORTY FftTHOMS ftN' We hR£ THREt FROM SHORE!—
fffwOTTH' CHART 5W5 t^TH'tCHO SOOMDU iWS SIX.
Demanded by Union
Public hearings, provision of all evidence and materials to the Union and completion of a full inquiry into the fishing industry, including examination of wholesale and retail sales practices for all species of fish, have been demanded by the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union in a letter this week to the chairman of the Restrictive Trade Practices Commission.
Describing the action against^ the Union as 'unique in the his
—Reproduced by requi*
At New Westminster
UFAWU Proposes Solution To Bridge Opening Problem
General executive board of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union has proposed a meeting with the New Westminster Harbor Commission over problems created by a recent order from the Harbor Master which would compel fishing vessels to hinge their masts, trolling and stabiliser poles and other gear in order to avoid frequent opening of the New Westminster Railway Bridge. *-■—
In the meantime, the Union has | t0 the effect that the bridSe is suggested that in order to mini-
mise the frequency of openings and closures for fishboat traffic, the bridge remain open and close only for rail traffic.
The problem was raised with the general executive board by Olaf Maurstad, veteran gillnetter and member of the New Westminster Local, on behalf of fishermen who make frequent trips through the bridge.
He pointed out, and this was supported by other gillnet members of the Union's general executive board that the proposal to hinge equipment was in most cases costly and impractical. One man in most instances would be unable to lower and raise his equipment without additional assistance.
"It is our opinion," UFAWU secretary Homer Stevens wrote Captain John Clayton, harbor master this week, "that it would be impossible to comply" with the section of the Fraser River Traffic Bylaw on which the order was based.
"Our members in the area have indicated that the best possible solution to the problem would be to have the swing span remain open at all times for the passage of fishing vessels or any other types of vessels, and closed only when it is being used by railway traffic. "Our ooinion is based on observation by fishermen in the area
being used for railway traffic only for a small part of each day and at intervals spaced a fair distance apart," Stevens wrote.
The Union secretary noted in his letter that from what Captain Clayton had stated in a phone conversation with him, "there would not be any hardship imposed on any fishermen immediately, and no drastic action taken for the time being. i
"If there should be a need for it," he added, "there would be a meeting arranged at an early date between yourself, the bridge master and representatives of the fishermen in the local area to go into the matter further."
At the same time, the Union secretary said he understood from
Capt. Clayton's comments, that there have been a few instances of vessels abusing privileges by making several trips in one day and requiring the span to be opened and closed continuously.
On this point, the Union felt its solution of keeping the bridge open except when railway traffic-was scheduled was the best plan "and would save a great deal of time on the part of personnel in charge of opening and closing the bridge.
"On the other hand," Stevens said, "if this solution is not immediately put into effect, it might be possible to arrange that fishing vessel traffic try to use the bridge at certain stated times during the day or night, and there could be discussion in the area on this point."
Troll Landings Decline As Season Nears End
Troll landings of all species of salmon dropped last week as the season approached its end, with the decline most marked at Steveston and Victoria. The s:ngle exception, both in troll and net landings, was white spring salmon. Prices for 2,100 pounds of troll
Fleet Thanked
For Kindness
The wife of a long time troller missing since last month has expressed her appreciation for a sum of money sent in by her husband's fellow trollers on the Goose Island Grounds.
Mrs. Mel Germyn has described the action of the fishermen as "very thoughtful" and said "I really appreciate their kindness."
She was unable to give all the names but wishes the men to know that their generous aid was a gesture she will not forget.
Mel Germyn of Gibsons, owner and operator of the troller Frances S, left for the fishing grounds following the strike in August and no trace of him nor his vessel has since been found.
He was a member of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union.
FISH PRICES
SEATTLE
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16
SPRINGS
Large  red |b. 67c
Medium red lb. 51c
Small red |D. 34c
All whites lb. 26-36c
Coho lb. 40c
HALIBUT (WED. SEPT. 16)
Crux no cnjx
Medium |t>. 21.4c
Large |'b. 23c
VANCOUVER
WEEK  ENDING SEPTEMBER 12
SPRINGS
Large red lb. 59-60c
Medium red lb. 44-45c
Small red lb. 34-36c
Large white lb. 44-45c
Small  white lb. 25c
Coho |b. 41-42c
caught spring salmon landed di rectly at Vancouver held at established levels—59-60 cents for large red, 44-45 cents for medium red, 34-36 cents for small red, 44-45 cents for large white and 25 cents for small white. But troll landings of 80,000 pounds at Vancouver were only half the 173,000 pounds of the previous week.
Direct landings of troll coho at Vancouver were down to 26,000 pounds at 41-42 cents, with packer landings of slightly under 100,-000 pounds far below the 202,000 pounds recorded a week earlier.
Troll pinks landed directly at Vancouver and Steveston amounted to 30,000 pounds at 22 cents, with packer deliveries totalling 190,000 pounds.
Troll landings reported from Steveston included 12,000 pounds of red springs, about 1,000 pounds more than the previous week, and 10,500 pounds of white springs, almost double the previous week's total.
Packers also delivered 45,000 pounds of troll coho at Steveston, about 10 percent of which were bluebacks.
Direct landings at Victoria were light, consisting of 9 900 pounds of pinks, 3,100 pounds of coho and 1,300 pounds of springs.
Net landings last week were generally higher than the previous week, headed by a total of 3,032,-000 pounds of pinks landed at the three southern ports. Sockeye, coho and chum landings at Steveston were all higher, sockeye landings of 350,000 pounds comparing with 278,000 pounds a week earlier, coho landings of 815,000 pounds being treble the 245,000 pounds of the previous week and chum landings of 275,000 pounds comparing with the previous week's figure of 91,000 pounds.
In addition, 100,000 pounds of white springs, up from 86,000 pounds the week before, were landed at Steveston at the low price of 12 cents. Landings of net caught red spring salmon however, were down to 18,000 pounds from 45,000 pounds a week earlier.
Landings of bottom fish at Vancouver, Steveston and Victoria were: black cod, 20,600 pounds at '8.5 large and 10 cents small; sole, H4252 pounds at 6-9 cents; grey .-od, 97,232 pounds at 5-6 cents; ling cod, 41,380 pounds at 6 cents troll, 8-10 cents trawl and 14 cents live; black bass, 4,500 pounds; m'nkfeed, 14,344 pounds at 2.5-3 cents.
Tuna landings at Vancouver totalled 24,283 pounds at prices ranging from $350 to $425 a ton.
Crab sales at Vancouver and Victoria totalled 513 dozen in the shell at 20.25 to $3 a dozen and 658 pounds of meat at 90 cents to $1 a pound. In addition, 1,500 pounds of shrimp meat were delivered at Vancouver.
PRINCE RUPERT
Landings of troll caught spring salmon at Prince Rupert last week were higher than the previous week, but other troll salmon landings were down.
Troll spring landings of 10,200 pounds brought 50-57 cents for large red, 40-44 cents for medium red, 27-32 cents for small red, 34 cents for large white and 22-24 cents for small white. Of the total, 8,000 pounds were red springs and 2,200 white springs.
Landings of troll coho totalled 61,400 pounds as compared to 122,-000 pounds the previous week, with 28-30 cents paid for direct landings, and pink landings totalled 1,500 pounds against the 11,000 pounds reported a week earlier.
Salmon net landings at Prince Rupert were substantially the same as the previous week, total-Mng 2 300 pounds of sockeye, 43,-"00 pounds of coho, 4,000 pounds of pinks and 13,800 pounds of chums.
Deliveries of bottom fish were light. Totalling 52,000 pounds, they were: sole, 2,900 pounds at 3-5.5 cents; grey cod, 19,100 pounds at 2.5 cents round. 30,000 pounds of minkfeed at 2 cents.
Crab fishermen landed 26,000 pounds of crabs at 10 cents a pound in the shell.
tory of Canada," the Union general executive board has written chairman C. Rhodes Smith that if public hearings are refused, the Union "will take every available step to obtain public support for our request."
The Commission had rejected a similar request made during the Combines probe in 1957, merely stating that such a step could only be taken under "unusual circumstances."
NOTHING TO HIDE
The Union's position was and remains that it has nothing to hide . . . negotiations and agreements are public knowledge.
It argues that the case itself is unusual since it is in effect the first time a trade union has actually been charged under the Combines Investigation Act which excludes unions from its provisions; it is unusual in its manner of origin since only two out of 66 cases previously examined began by six persons laying charges under the Act, in this case believed to be strikebreakers; it follows a pattern laid down in the United States.
All circumstances surrounding this action, the Union declared, "required that the 'unusual' light of publicity be allowed to enter the proceedings. . . ."
Moreover, the Union added in its current letter to Commission chairman Rhodes Smith, "Parliament itself, by unanimous vote, has recognised the unusual nature of this case by adopting a special statute permitting this Union and the fishing companies to continue their past practices for a period of two years even though (director of investigation) T. D. MacDonald feels these practices were a breach of the criminal law." SUPPLY ALL MATERIAL
Turning to material and evidence which Mr. MacDonald previously refused to release to the Union, the executive board has repeated its request for sections of the transcript and items referred to in appendices involved in evidence given by parties aside from the Union.
"It is definitely our intention to insist that all this material be made available to us a reasonable  time  before the hearings begin," the Union asserted. It has asked for one month's notice if the Commission chairman wishes to arrange a preliminary hearing   "for   argument   on this point."
The Union bluntly declares that
PETITION ASKS RIVER OPENING BE PERMANENT
Federal fisheries minister J. Angus MacLean is being asked by the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union to make permanent an amendment to regulations allowing commercial fishing on the Fraser River between New Westminster and Mission bridges after September 15, subject only to closures for conservation reasons.
The UFAWU request is supported by a petition signed by 282 fishermen and other residents of the area affected.
A letter written to MacLean by UFAWU secretary Homer Stevens points out that amendment of the regulations to permit commercial fishing between the two bridges after September 15 for this year only necessitates annual representations being made to obtain similar orders-in-council.
"We believe that a majority of the fishermen in the area favor a permanent change being made," says Stevens.
". . . unless the material we require is furnished, and we are given a sufficient time to study it with a view to answering, you will, in our eyes, be denying us the right to a full opportunity to be heard in this matter.
"The law entitles us to that right. Any reasonable concept of justice  must  include the right
of the persons against whom allegations are made to receive full access to all evidence given in the inquiry which led to such allegations. We intend, therefore, to press for this material as strongly as possible." INCOMPLETE INQUIRY "A shocking state of affairs" is
See COMBINES ATTACK—Page 8
Wide Support Sought For UFAWU Requests
The United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union has written 3ritish Columbia MPs, Members of the BC Legislature, the Canadian Labor Congress, the BC Federation of Labor and other trade unions asking support for requests placed before the Restrictive Trade Practices Commission.
The Union wants public hearings, completion of the inquiry into the wholesale and retail fish trade, and provision of all material presented during hearings.
It asks those to whom the letter is sent to forward letters to C. Rhodes Smith in Ottawa and to meet the requests "prior to hearings on the rights of organised fishermen to bargain collectively for and sign minimum price agreements."
Herring Fleet Plans Meet with Companies
Herring fishermen will hold a meeting this Friday morning in the Fishermen's Hall and will likely meet the Fisheries Association the same afternoon to discuss terms of an agreement. An earlier meeting of the fleet was held last Saturday afternoon. <$>-
The fleet is actually on strike and has been since reopening of the fishery this spring with the exception of one small company, John C. Jackson Ltd., which has met all Union terms.
Set out in the Jackson agreement is a rate of $14.25 per ton for reduction and $20 for herring used for other purposes.
Latest offer from the Fisheries Association which was made some months ago, was a flat $13 per ton.
The Jackson contract which sets out other terms sought by the Union in earlier negotiations, provides for a Union pension plan based on five percent of earnings from the employees in the fleet and an equal amount from the Company paid to the Herring Pension Plan with cheques mailed care of the Union.
Arrangements have been made to cover tendermen, where employed, by setting aside shares on the basis of one fisherman's share for the skipper, 95 percent for the engineer. 90 percent for the mate and second engineer, and 80 percent for the cook or deckhand.
At the same time, however, the
agreement stipulates that "tender-men shall be covered under their own agreement."
Regarding fleet size, the John C. Jackson agreement states that if the Company „ operates more than three herring seiners during the 1959-60 season, the Union will be free to reopen prices and cease fishing until a price is mutually agreed upon or until the fleet is returned to the three vessel level.
The Union must be advised of all replacements or changes during the season. If seiners are replaced during the season, the crew must be transferred to the replacement.
A new section providing for first come, first served unloading where pooling arrangements are made by several companies has been written into the contract with the Union to be informed of any plans along these lines.
Winter layup dates from December 16 to January 17 have been set out and a change in termination procedure that keeps the agreement running continuously unless either party reopens, has also been put into effect.
Salmon Pack Remains Below Million Cases
With 933,430 cases of 48 pounds each as of September 12,
British Columbia's 1959 salmon pack is the lowest in the past
six years.  The nearest comparable year was 1956, when the
salmon pack stood at 970,264 cases as of September 15.
This year's sockeye pack offflr* cloged 875  cases  compares  with  226,254     In  upper   Johnstone   strait on
cases in 1957 and 239,434 cases in 1955. However, the coho pack of 174,718 cases is the highest in the past six years, approached only by the 1957 pack of 171,269 cases.
The pink pack of 418,383 cases is better than the low years of 1954 and 1956 but far behind the 714,854 cases in 1957.
Salmon pack figures reflect the generally poor fishing reported from areas open this week, since both the west coast of Vancouver Island and Queen Charlotte Sound
Areas 12-16 Still Open; Reviewed Next Week
Fishing will resume in Areas 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 this Sunday night, September 20, at 6 p.m., according to the federal fisheries department. But there will be some portions of Areas 13 and 14 excepted from fishing.
A meeting of departmental of-<$--
fleers in Comox Monday made this     Toba and Jervis inlets will re-
decision as well as agreeing that fishing would remain open Thursday night of the current week.
A further meeting will be held in Comox September 22 to review chum runs up to that point and an announcement will be made on further openings and closures.
Closed to fishing next week will be the waters of Quathiaski sub-district. Area 13, with the exception of Johnstone Strait, Discovery Passage, Kanish Bay, Bute Inlet, and waters one mile within the entrance of Nodales and Okisollo channels.
main closed to salmon net fishing until further notice.
In addition, Comox Bar (the portion of Area 14 lying inside a line from Cape Lazo to Longbeak Point on Denman Island, thence to Union Bay wharf) was closed September 15 and will remain closed until further notice.
Reason for the latter closure is the weakness of pink runs to the Puntledge and Tsolum rivers. The other closure is due to poor pink escapement to mainland streams.
September 15, 168 seiners had an average of 30 coho, 93 pinks and 93 chums, while 245 gillnetters fishing the area the same night averaged 7 coho, 7 pinks and 17 chums.
In lower Johnstone Strait on September 16, 70 seiners had an average of 4 sockeye, 32 coho, 123 pinks and 64 chums.
All gillnetters were reported to have pulled out of lower Johnstone Strait on the night of September 16, but 60 gillnetters fishing there on the night of September 15 had an average of 15 coho, 7 pinks and 6 chums.
Farther south, at the apex of the International Boundary, 26 seiners on September 16 averaged 144 sockeye and 148 pinks.
On the Fraser River, 700 gillnetters fishing the Steveston-Sandheads area on September 15 recorded an average of 40 sockeye and 20 pinks.
USSR CONCERNED OVER LIGHT RUNS
Soviet fisheries scientists are reported to be concerned over the decrease in humnback and other salmon entering Kamchatka rivers to spawn in recent years.
A Tass news agency report on an aerial survey of spawning grounds conducted by Soviet scientists concluded:
"Kamchatka scientists believe the decrease in the number of salmon is the result of intrusive fishing carried out by Japanese fishermen on the high seas."