November 8, 1955
THE FISHERMAN
Page 3
Sooke Salmon Traps Won't Operate in 1956
Still Ballet Class Openings
The Vancouver Women's Auxiliary-sponsored ballet lessons are being extended so there is room for more kiddies, particularly those in the seven to 10 age group.
Yes, we have included in our program a special class for kiddies who have taken their primary exam and wish to work toward the grade one classification.
Our classes are now as follows, taking place each Saturday in the Fishermen's Hall at the following times:
AGE TIME
4 to 6 7 to 10 Advanced 7 to 10 11 to 13
1:45 to 2:15 2:15 to 3:00
3:00 to 3:45 3:45 to 4:30
We have openings in our groups and the best instruction available on the west coast in the person of Miss Quon from the Mara McBirney Studios.
We might add that these classes are provided at special rates which make them the most reasonable in town.
If you wish your children to receive competent ballet instruction, this is your opportunity. Come along: with the children to the Fishermen's Hall at 138 East Cordova this Saturday afternoon and ask for either Isabel North or Julia Rigby.
"Got a Date With an Angel"
Julius Barth is owner of a fishing vessel which seems to have a date with Davey Jones and an irrepressible desire to keep it.
His "Dorbarth" broke down in heavy seas off Sechelt November 2 and was towed to safety by the tug "Sea monarch 2."
The 53-foot steel vessel foun dered in rough weather last December off the Fraser and sank in almost 400 feet of water. She was raised, a seemingly impossible task, repaired and outfitted. At that time the trawler was called the "David Scott" but she has since been renamed the "Dorbarth" with similar results.
Company Verifies Statement, But Refuses to Give Union Letter
FLOOD VICTIMS
'Disgrace' No Canadian Coastguard for Rescue
A report in the Victoria Colonist Sunday quoted George Pearkes, MP for Esquimalt-Saanich as stating that Canada has been "disgraced" as a result of the United States Coastguard being called out to rescue residents of Port Renfrew] isolated by recent flood conditions and in danger of their lives.
He said he would ask Parliament at the next session for establishment of a coast guard service for the west coast of Vancouver Island and other B.C. coastal areas.
Both Mr. Pearkes and Dr. Frank Fairey, MP for Victoria, pledged support of a petition for a coastguard now being circulated along the B.C. coast by Mrs. Ian C. McLeod of Tofino.
Mrs. McLeod, whose husband and a companion were aboard the fishboat "Maidie H," this summer .when the vessel was lost, asks that naval vessels be designated for rescue duty if a coastguard is not established.
PETITION GROWS
She announced that 1,200 persons have signed the petition, which is being circulated and supported by the UFAWU and its score of Locals and has also been endorsed by the Tofino and Ucluelet chambers of commerce. Some 2,000 names are expected to be on the petition when it is
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finally sent to Transport Minister George Marler.
Gen. Pearkes said he will present the petition to the House of Commons if it is given to him, but "whether they send it to me or not, I will discuss the matter anyway."
He said Canada "cannot afford a coast guard on such an elaborate scale as the U.S." but could improve the present coordinated rescue system or have a volunteer coastguard assisted by grants.
Referring to the flood episode, he said: "It is a disgrace to Canada that for rescue work on land, we have to rely upon the U.S. Coast Guard."
"VERY GRATEFUL"
He and Dr. Fairey were both "very grateful" that the Americans helped, and the Victoria MP added: "It is only to be regretted that we do not have an organisation to do the work ourselves."
He promised to present the petition to the minister, if requested to do so, and take part in any debate which might arise. He pointed out Mr. Marler said in Victoria recently that the question of improving sea rescue was "receiving his consideration."
Crewmen of the Sooke Joe Collins that the operation traps this year.
This announcement was checked by Union headquarters with Robert Payne, manager of J. H. Todd and Sons Ltd., and the Sooke Harbor Fishing and Packing Company. Payne, who was placed at the head of J. H. Todd and Sons when the company was taken over last year by B. C. Packers and Canadian Fishing Company, verified the statement | given the men but declined to I give the Union a letter stating the company position.
He would not say whether or not it was the company intention to operate in any future years but said installation of the traps in any future year would depend upon a careful analysis of anticipated fish runs, operating costs and other pertinent data. . As is customary in cases of this kind, he also claimed rising labor costs as a primary consideration leading to the company decision and said if the traps were ever' to operate again, it would be with a smaller crew and with each man doing more work.
This opinion, reported by business agent Gordon to the crew at a meeting held Tuesday, November 1, provoked a good deal of acid comment. For instance, it was pointed out that only 26 men were employed this year compared to 40 in 1954, and as many as 50 in 1952.
The men also observed that if the new company management had listened to the old timers in the crew, a number of whom have worked between 20 and 30 years at Sooke, much money wasted during this year's operation would have been saved. This was stated in reference to the change of design made in two of the five traps (Sooke and Beechey) on the advice of so-called trap experts from Alaska and against the advice of Sooke crewmen.
The catch of these two traps this year was practically nil. Also against the advice and
salmon traps last Friday were informed by superintendent would be terminated upon completion of dismantling of the
opinion of crewrnen, the companyrumors that Juan de Fuca will
this spring hired an outside pile
driver to work on the traps at a
much greater cost than their own
men during the period of trap driving.
Wages paid this year to Sooke crewmen during the period of trap building ranged from $265 per month ($1.38 per hour) for "first year man" to $350 per month ($1.82 per hour) for "Pile Driver Engineer."
For the dismantling period, the monthly wages remained the same but the weekly hours are reduced from 44 to 40 with a resultant increase in the hourly rate ("First year man" $1.52 per hour, "Pile Driver Engineer" $2.01 per hour).
Reaction of the Sooke crewmen to the company claim about high labor costs is understandable since these rates are anywhere from 15 to 40 cents per hour less than rates paid for comparable work in B. C. basic industries other than fishing, and even more disadvantageous if other Sooke conditions, such as hours of work, are adequately considered.
The ambiguous company attitude which infers, without a definite position, that the traps will operate in future years has led to speculation on just what the company has in mind.
One fact immediately stands out : 1956 is not a pink salmon year for the Straight of Juan de Fuca. In addition there are
be closed for sockeye fishing next year.
Possibly a pattern of trap operation is visualised on alternate years to coincide with pink runs with the further possibility of an operation during cycle years of the Adams River sockeye run.
To salmon trap men, there is opposition to any plan of intermittent trap operation. On many occasions during negotiations when the traps were under the old Todd management, the company said the profit and loss figures for the traps could only be figured on a 10 year cycle; in other words the bad had to be taken with the good.
This attitude showed at least some recognition of responsibility toward the trap crewmen, by providing work each year. A sporadic operation means a new policy of taking only the good years, leaving the anticipated bad years, and abandoning any responsibility to the men.
At the November 1 meeting, crewmen decided that issuance of licenses for the traps should be made conditional on the traps being operated each year. In other words, if in any year the traps are not built, licences should not again be issued and the traps permanently abandoned. Discussions will be held with government authorities on this question.
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