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B.C. Herring Fleet Quits For Season
The B.C. herring fleet has quit fishing for the 1956-57 season in a spontaneous movement that carried through the past week despite a federal department of fisheries extension of the northern sub district quota by 20,000 tons and an extension of the normal March 10 closure date to March 15.
The action culminated a post-Christmas season of scratchy fishing and bad weather coupled with poor judgment by the federal fisheries department in acceding to Company requests for the northern time and quota extension.
That, in any event, sums up the attitude of herring men who arrived in Vancouver on the weekend.
The northern sub district is still open, the only area remaining with closure of the central area last Saturday, but the fleet is in town, and the companies' have made no statement in connection with the unofficial exodus from the grounds.
Proposed Salmon Boundary Extensions Hit by Union
Proposal to extend fishing boundaries in three areas of the B.C. coast has been strongly criticised by the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union in its annual submission on proposed regulation changes circulated to the fishing industry by the federal department of fisheries last December.
See HERRING  FLEET QUITS — Page 4
FISHERMAN OF INDIA
—FLO Photo
The only sign of modern progress evident in this photo of a Madrasi fisherman is the cellophane covering on his head. Otherwise, he has been fishing the same way as his ancestors have for centuries. Each morning, the Madrasi fishermen of India lash together log craft on which they paddle cut to sea. At night the logs are untied and left to dry on the sand. The International Labor Organisation (ILO) will-at its 1958 conference discuss conditions of fishermen all over the world.
copy, $3.00 a year
^^^^^jjj^^^^^^H Price 100 per
iBeti/herman
Representing the Organised Fishermen and Shoreworkers of British Columbia
VOL. XIX   No. 9
VANCOUVER, B.C., MARCH 12, 1957
Victory for Labor
Quebec Padlock Law Scuttled
The Supreme Court of Canada has dealt a sharp blow to anti-democratic policies in Canadian life with its verdict last week that Quebec's notorious Padlock .Law was invalid.
Thus, unless the father of this
thought control law, Premier Maurice Duplessis appeals to the Privy Council, its 20-year existence as a curb on freedom in that province has come to an end.
The United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union played an important part in defeat of* the measure, when the 1956 convention voted $300 to the trust fund established to fight the anti-labor legislation and voiced its opposition to the measure in resolution form.
Officially labelled "An Act to protect the province (of Quebec) from Communistic propaganda," the Padlock Law never did define Communism and was used sweep-ingly by Duplessis to suppress opposition to his regime and its policies.
The Canadian Supreme Court ruled last Friday by eight to one that the Act was outside the legislative powers of the province because it encroached on Parliament's exclusive jurisdiction over the criminal law.
The Padlock Law had been used by Duplessis against the organised labor movement and. determined opposition to it came from the trade unions.
Last year's UFAWU convention was addressed by barrister John Stanton on behalf of the B.C. League for Democratic Rights which together with the Civil Liberties Union did outstanding work in fighting the Act.
In his remarks, Stanton pointed out that the Padlock Law had been used to restrict the labor movement in its fight for improved wages. The differential between Quebec and Ontario wage levels had increased several times during its 20 years of existence, he reported, and cited figures to bear out his charge.
Under the Law, Duplessis ys-sumed dictatorial powers, having authority to padlock any premises for one year at will since under the legislation, he was accuser, judge, jury and sxecutioner.
The challenge against the padlock law was made by John Switz-man of Montreal, whose Park Avenue apartment was padlocked by Quebec provincial, police in 1949.
A supporter of the Labor-Progressive party, he admitted his apartment was used to propagate Communist ideas.
After the padlocking, he was sued by his landlady, Mrs. Fred Elbling, who claimed $2,170 in damages and asked the court to annul the lease.
Mr. Justice Frederick T. Collins of Quebec superior court dismissed her damage claims but annulled the lease. His decision was upheld in a 4-to-l judgment of the Quebec court of appeal.
During the superior court proceedings, the attorney-general intervened in the case and asked the court to rule the padlock law
ANNUAL MEETING
GAFF CREDIT UNION
(Gulf and Fraser Fishermen's Credit Union)
FRIDAY, MARCH 15
7:00 P.M.
HASTINGS AUDITORIUM 828 East Hastings
• Refreshments   and Dance fotlow Business Meeting
April 20 to May 25Proposed For Delegates'Stay in USSR
The USSR Central Council of Trade Unions has proposed that if the delegation it has invited from the B.C. fishing industry could arrive in Moecow. on April 20, it would facilitate planning the group's itinerary and make it possible for them to leave May 25 for their return trip to Canada. Central Council president V.
Grishin wrote the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union expressing pleasure in the recommendation of the Union's executive that the convention accept the Council's invitation to send a delegation.
"We are also glad," Grishin wrote, "that you have taken steps to invite the Fishermen's Cooperative Association, the Native Brotherhood of B.C. and the Fishing Vessel Owners Association to send a delegate each in a joint delegation with you. We shall be equally glad to welcome their representatives in the delegation."
The Soviet trade union leader expressed the opinion that five weeks would be sufficient time for the trip, including a visit to the Pacific coast.
"We are not sure as to the possibility of the delegation seeing the Kamchatka fishery in actual operation," he points out, in view of the general dates set forth by the Union, including a May return to Canada.
"The salmon fishery in the Kamchatka area begins from the middle of June and is at its most active in July-August. Nevertheless, we think this could be compensated for if the Canadian delegation saw the fishing industry on the Pacific coast of the USSR." He mentions that so far as transportation is concerned, since there is no air service between
with within the legislative powers of the province. The Quebec courts ruled that it was.
It was this judgment that Mr. Switzman took to the supreme court, where he was represented by Frank L. Scott, McGill University law professor, and Abraham Feiner and Jacques Per-reault, both of Montreal.
the USSR and Japan, the delegation would leave for home from Moscow.
Financial arrangements have been clarified with Grishin confirming that the UFAWU would look after fare of delegates to Moscow, with the Central Council of Trade Unions looking after the return fare to Canada.
The Soviet Union official extends "on behalf of Soviet trade union members . . . our fraternal greetings and best wishes to dele gates at the annual convention of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union.
"We express our hope that the development of fraternal ties between our organisations will promote closer relations between our countries and better understanding between the working people of Canada and the Soviet Union who are equally interested in peaceful coexistence, higher living standards and the general well-being of our peoples."
The suggested changes were contained in a list of 13 varied amendments issued for discussion and comment by the department.
The three dealing with boundaries would move them farther seaward off Chemainus River,, Nanaimo River, and Howe Sound.
"The entire membership of our Union is up in arms over the suggestion that there shall be further movement of boundaries away from the mouth of the rivers and in a seaward direction. We challenge the suggestion that there is any conservation purpose to be served by the changes in boundaries which have been outlined," the Union declares in its brief to chief supervisor of fisheries A. J. Whitmore.
"We suspect that there are other reasons entirely for the suggested movement of boundaries," the Union charges, adding that ". . . it is high time that some of these real reasons should be put forward when you circularise the industry. "As  the department is well aware, there is considerable overcrowding in the existing fishing areas.   This overcrowding shows rxo sign of abating and in fact tends to increase from year to year.  The proposal to shut down more of the existing fishing areas and place them beyond the reach of   commercial  fishermen only works a hardship on the fishing fleet.  We submit it does nothing to protect the salmon runs as it will still be necessary to control the commercial catch by special regulations involving weekly and seasonal closures . . .
"We are inclined to think that movement of commercial fishermen away from the existing fishing areas would be of far more benefit   to   certain commercial sport fishing interests than it will be to the aim of conservation. "In   our   opinion, existing boundaries are sufficiently distant from the mouths of the rivers to give adequate protection   for  salmon  which are schooled up waiting to go up the river. "However, as you yourself have pointed out on previous occasions, there are  times when a very heavy sport fishery conducted on salmon which are milling around the mouths of some of these same streams is very detrimental to future stocks.
"In our opinion, the boundaries are still far enough out so that the fishermen are actually taking travelling fish and not fish which are schooled up and milling around.
"We might also point out that once you remove the commercial fishing boundary for salmon to a more distant point it prevents all salmon fishing commercially which is quite a hardship on such groups as local troll salmon fish ermen who may find it possible to eke out a small livelihood dur ing the part of the year when fishing is very limited.
"For all of the foregoing reas ons, we are very bitterly oppos ed to the recommendations (for extending these boundaries seaward) and we would urge you to discard them as we are convinced they have - no bearing whatever on conservation of the salmon runs," the Union concludes, f
The Union's position on other recommendations will be detailed in next week's Fisherman.
UFA WU MEETING CALENDAR
	HALIBUT FISHERMEN THURSDAY, MARCH 14 1:00 p.m. UNION HALL   -   -   -   138 E. Cordova • Longline Negotiations • Curtailment Questions
^® ■	
	ALL VANCOUVER FISHERMEN Special local Meeting MONDAY, MARCH 18 7:30 pan. UNION HALL   -   -   -   138 E. Cordova • Elect Convention Delegates • Dues Increase Vote • Proposed Initiation Increase
Bring him to the Union Meeting	
WESTVIEW LOCAL
FRIDAY, MARCH
7:00 p.m.
MOOSE HALL.......
15
Westview
• Convention Questions O Other Business
PRINCE RUPERT SHOREWORKERS Special Meeting
MONDAY, MARCH 18
8:00 p.m.
CIVIC CENTRE........PRINCE RUPERT
• Convention Business
• Dues Increase Votex
VANCOUVER SHOREWORKERS
THURSDAY, MARCH 21
8:00 p.m.
FISHERMEN'S HALL......138 E. CORDOVA
• Convention Resolutions
SIDNEY FISHERMEN'S LOCAL
MONDAY, MARCH 18
# 8 p.m.
K.P. HALL _ SIDNEY
• Elect Convention Delegates
• Vote on Dues Increase, Delegation to USSR
LADNER FISHERMEN'S LOCAL
FRIDAY, MARCH 15
7:30 p.m. LADNER CO-OP HALL
• Elect Convention Delegates
• Resolutions to Convention
• Convention Questions
Many Unionists Nominated On Delegation to USSR
Some 16 people have been nominated by seven Locals of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union to take part in the delegation to the Soviet Union from B.C. fishing industry organisations this spring.
Heading the list is Union first vice president Buck Suzuki who was nominated by two Locals, Namu and Fort Langley.
The Namu Local, however, was not in favor of sending a delegation but members voted that if a delegation were sent, they wanted to nominate Buck Suzuki.
Nominations received to press-time Monday were as follows by Local:
Albion — Jack Rogers; Fort Langley — E. McEachern, Homer
Stevens, Eric Burnell, Reg Payne, Buck Suzuki, J. Treliving, and Milton McEachern; Namu — Buck Suzuki; Nanaimo — C. J. Schule, James Robertson; Prince Rupert — Tom Parkin, Bob Munro; Quathiaski — Mike Canic; Vancouver Shoreworkers — Ed Bertram, Tony Driscoll.
The UFAWU convention this month will decide both on the number of delegates and who they will be.
Skeena Committee Holds to July 7 Opening, Three to Four Day Week
The Skeena management committee has announced recommendations it is proposing to the federal department of fisheries, virtually unchanged from those presented to the industry for discussion in January.
If the committee's recommendations are adopted, and there is no reason to believe otherwise, fishing will open July 7 with three days fishing weekly to July 28, four days from that date to August 11, then three days to Sep-
tember 1, and from that date to the end of the season, four days' fishing weekly. m
Only point where the recommendations differ from those originally drafted involves weekly closed times. A proviso has
Annual UFAWU Banquet & Ball
THUR., MARCH 28
'  Commodore Cabaret
• CHICKEN DINNER 9   COLORFUL FLOOR SHOW
• DANCING TO 1:30 A.M. Tickets MUST Be Purchased Early .... $3.75 Each
See Your Local Secretary or Call at Fishermen's Hall, 138 E. Cordova or at The Fisherman, 301 Powell Street . . . BUT DO IT NOW !
been added which would give the committee power to reduce the closed period at any time if evidence shows "conservation needs can be met with shorter weekly closed times ..."
Here are the detailed recommendations carried over the signature of committee members A. J. Whitmore and A. W. H. Needier, and director of investigations F. C. Withler:
• That the upriver commercial fishing boundary for all salmon fishing in the Skeena gillnet area in 1957 be maintained at the Mowitch-Veitch Point line.
• That prior to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 7, only gillnets having mesh not less than 8" linen, or &¥z" nylon, stretched measure be permitted, and that prior to this date a 72-hour weekly closed period from 6 p.m. Thursday, until 6 p.m. Sunday be maintained.
• That fishing for salmon with
See
SKEENA COMMITTEE — Page 8