January 12, 1954
THE FISHERMAN
Sinclair Irks Sunbury Members
Fraser River fishermen have expressed serious concern over statements and opinions attributed to fisheries minister James Sinclair and propounded in a Vancouver Sun editorial on January 2 which in effect call for elimination of small gillnetters from the B.C. fishing industry.
At least one Local, Sunbury, is starting a movement among the
•Stars' WiiT First Half
By BILLY DONALDSON
According to the latest returns (Dec. 16) the Canfisco All Stars top the league standings with a two point margin over the CloveT-leafs who for some unaccountable reason have been slipping a bit of late. They have been very consistent from the beginning of the season, of course, and I believe are the most steady team in the league. Probably the strain at the top of the table was wearing them down a bit.
The All Stars have been coming from behind of late and are likely to make a strong effort to retain the trophy for the second season and be the first team to do so. But the other teams will have a lot better chance to put up stronger opposition than they did during the first half of the season.
The finish of the first half of the season took place on January 6 and the All Stars further increased their lead oyer 'Leafs who dropped valuable points to the Pinheads even though that team were without one of their star performers who was confined to bed, a very sick person. Nevertheless, Dot Paulik seems to spark the team on with three very nice games. Ted Foort was overjoyed in the fact that the Pinheads managed to get three points. ,
Getting back to the games played on December 16 when the competition for the usual Christmas prizes (gobblers of course and what have you) took place. Gwynn Gunn won one turkey for the ladies' section and Bert Wybrew won the turkey on the gents' side of the fence. Gwynn informed me she was very lucky as she had won another turkey on a 25c Christmas Draw ticket and had a present of another turkey. According to reports, she was really lucky as that great grand sport Helen Smith was playing from scratch and was beaten by only a few pins. This is either the second or third time Helen has been a hard luck loser and just seems to take it in her stride, with the attitude that someone has to win it and good luck to them or her. I'm sorry that it is not possible for me to attend all the games and feel a little bit dis-apppointed that we are very often not notified when members of a team cannot attend which is quite a blow to their team.
Space doesn't permit any more news right now so till next week, so long.
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Fraser Valley Locals "against this imminent danger to our livelihood."
A committee of 10 members has been elected to contact Union Locals, Fraser Council, headquarters, and responsible citizens immediately. First meeting was held Sunday and is reported on page one.
Among comments contained in the editorial are the following which are but a few brief excerpts:
"The small gillnetter on the Fraser must give way to larger gillnetters in special areas and to seiners in the salt Straits of Juan de Fuca."
"B.C. fishermen will become the most prosperous in the world when they face up fully to fundamental changes being forced by modern equipment and tough competition in world markets."
"Fishermen working in larger gillnetters and in seiners can also go after halibut as small gillnetters can't, and large boats have a better chance at herring. Both these crops come mainly when salmon aren't running. Thus larger boats can operate just about all year round, assuring fishermen of larger and more dependable incomes. »
"Some fishermen are resisting the trend, Mr. Sinclair says. 'But if farmers and loggers took the attitude these fishermen take, they'd still be cutting crops with
MESSAGE OF THANKS
I wish to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to my many friends who were so kind to me during my recent bereavement. Special thanks to Canadian Fish and the netmen at Gulf of Georgia.
MRS. WILLIAM BAIN
hand scythes and felling trees with handsaws'."
According to the editorial, Mr. Sinclair has not considered the Union proposal for licence limitation because "It presents too many problems and could lead to too much unfairness." Instead, he believes the changes must come "through education and a minimum of government intervention."
Hear Resistance Yokes on Records
Editor, The Fisherman:
Your newspaper has, on many occasions, condemned McCarthy-ism and witch-hunting in the USA. I am sure you will agree with me when I say that there is no place for such hysteria in Canada.
Recently the organisation I belong to, the Vancouver Branch of the League For Democratic Rights, obtained a set of records (four sides, 33 rpm) entitled "Voices of Resistance." These records were made from tape recordings of hearings before the Un-American Committee in Los Angeles in 1952. A large number of lawyers, doctors and Hollywood personalities appeared before the Committee and refused to surrender their democratic rights by answering questions as to their political beliefs and affiliations. These are the voices you hear when you listen to the records.
Anyone interested in organising a group to hear these records in a home, or under the auspices of a club or association, should please contact the undersigned at HAst-ings 6865-Y after 5.30 p.m.
(Mrs) TILLIE F. COLLINS, 339 West Pender St., Vancouver, B.C.
REGULATIONS DISCUSSED
Page 3
By ART BURCHETT
Pacific Marine Fisheries Meet
Being appointed by our President Reg Payne to attend the Sixth Annual Canference of the Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission in San Francisco was a pleasant surprise and a mission which 1 tried to carry out to the best of my ability.
The Conference started with a
luncheon on December 14 at the Bellevue Hotel with Drs. Don Milne and Keith Ketchin from the Pacific Biological Station and myself being the only Canadians there. The first discussion to take place was on the recommendation of a four and one half inch mesh net in the cod end for otter trawling.
A movie was shown of a trawler using nets with a three inch and a 4% inch cod end, dragging for rose fish. Using the three inch cod end, only four percent of the fish caught were gilled in the net. But where the 4V2 inch cod end was used, 38 percent gilled. They also tried out a five inch double and found 13 percent gilled. Thus gilling in the 4% inch mesh was the main objection from the fishermen.
On the black cod, a recommendation for 25 inch total length minimum size was put aside for further consideration, after Nick
• Art Burchett is a well-known west coast troll fisherman. He is secretary of the Tofino Local of the UFAWU and last year was a delegate to the annual convention. of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union. Art tells here in capsule form the story of his attendance at the conference of the Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission held in San Francisco last month. He represented the UFAWU at the meeting.
Heres' a note for you black cod men—extensive tagging indicates that the black cod does not migrate to any extent but usually stays within a fairly small area.
Most of the Commission's time was taken up with salmon conservation, tagging and minimum sizes. There was quite a lot of
Kuljis, secretary, Fishermen's Mar- sampling done between the Colum-keting Cooperative (formerly Ot-! bia River and Grays Harbor and ter Trawl Union) of Seattle ob-1 this showed that about half of the jected strongly., He maintained fish caught had to be thrown back that the fish on the Swiftsure Bank in as they were under the 27 inch were thicker through and weighed minimum size. These fish were more so they should not include weighed before being thrown back Swiftsure in a 25 inch regulation, and they represented about 36
Net Standardization Action Outlined By Imperial Head
A letter from Imperial Cannery manager Ken Fraser to UFAWU research director W. Rigby outlines recommendations of double-knot net manufacturers for standardisation of gear for the B.C. fishing industry.
Mr. Fraser's letter, which is self-explanatory, reads as follows:
★ * * As requested, I am quoting below excerpts of letter sent to all the United Kingdom, Canadian, American, Holland, and Japanese Double-knot net manufacturers, bringing to their attention the industry's recommendations for standardization of gear for the British Columbia fishing industry.
"On my return from the United Kingdom, I immediately took action to carry out the request made by the double-knot net manufacturers, as recommended at the meeting in the Russell Hotel on Friday, October 16, to arrive at some basic standard specifications for double-knot netting for British Columbia. I had two well-attended meetings of the industry, where certain decisions were made for standarization. On Monday, December 7, the industry met with the Vancouver agents representing both United Kingdom and Holland manufacturers.. Unfortunately, the representative for Japanese netting could not attend, but has assured me that he will accept any decisions made with regard to standardization of nets.
(1) Color—Agreed to have a white net, and only two (2) selections of green color. All nets to be pre-shrunk.
(2) Guarding—Guarding optional, but specifications to cover only one-half mesh top or bottom, or
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both, or two (2) plys heavier than the basic net.
(3) Thread Range—For double knot netting; 33, 43, 53, and 63, the industry has requested that definite specifications for thread range be established by the manufacturers on yards per pound of twine. At present, there are too many variations, leading to confusion in the fishermen's minds as to the great differential in weights per net.
(4) Mesh Size—up to 5", multiples of Vi". From 5"-5V4", multiples of Vs". Above 5Vi", multiples of V*".
(5) Length of Net—Where actual length of nets cannot be made owing to mechanical problems, then the length would be knit to the closest panel.
"These recommendations were unanimously agreed to by all.
"It was agreed at the meeting in London that once the industry established definite specifications for our British Columbia double-knot netting requirements, then each company, in turn, would instruct their Vancouver agent that no nets, other than covered by the specifications, would be taken, and we would appreciate that this be done at once. There is no way that we can cover those nets already made, but insist that these recommendations be put into effect immediately. As an industry, we mell that we have complied with your wishes, but the carrying out of the specifications is something that you will have to police and control as a manufacturer."
I was very pleased to hear that your comments were most favorable in our approach to this problem.
IMPERIAL CANNERY K. F. FRASER, Manager.
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Welfare Fund Aid Timely
The following letters have been received by the Board of Trustees, Pilchard and Herring Welfare Fund- and the United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union:
Dear Sirs:
I am writing to thank you and all who had a part in sending me the cheque for the Five Hundred Dollars.
It was indeed most generous of you to take such a reasonable view of the claims when you could have done otherwise. I assure you there are those who are in a position to do such things with a great deal more of this world's goods who would certainly evade the matter rather than assist as you have done. You may be sure I appreciate it, and also your good wishes and sympathy towards me in the loss of my husband.
His was a sad case. He fought so hard and it was heart-breaking to see him failing daily, to know one could do nbthing to help, but wait and watch for the end. I think
FIRE FORCES SINKING OF RIVER GILLNETTER
Firemen cut a hole in the hull of a 32-foot fishboat and let her sink off Page's Wharf on Mitchell Island last Friday when flames from the vessel became too fierce to control at her dock.
The gillnetter "Lady Luck," owned by Clinton Allen, was towed from her berth when the flames threatened four other fishing vessels docked nearby. Firemen cracked open her hull with axes.
Allen doubted if he could salvage much from the boat and estimated the loss between $7000 and $8000 reported to be partly covered by insurance.
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Leukemia is one of the cruelest diseases today, and I do hope they can find a cure in the near future.
Once more I wish to thank you for your kind and generous thought and I assure you the money will be used wisely as it really is needed most urgently.
With best wishes to you all for the year we have just started and again thanking you, I remain,
Lucie M. Pallow.
Victoria, B.C.
★ * ★
Dear Sirs:
I thank you all from the bottom of my heart, for the wonderful gift you sent me. It is hard to put into words just how I feel, so thanking you again, and hoping you all had a real happy Christmas and I wish you a very happy and prosperous new year.
Mrs. Horace Barnes. Vancouver, B.C.
percent of the total weight. Dr. Don Milne of the Pacific Biological Station at Departure Bay reported on this study of salmon off the West Coast last year.
Speaking on the catching of small immature fish, he said the only area possible for closure for a nursery area is Cape Beale. He also commented on his study of lures, in which the larger plugs caught the larger fish.
Pictures were shown of the "John W. Cobb" on its recent trip to Bristol Bay to study the fish in that area. Japan and the USA have established an arbitrary line being 175 degrees longitude until scientific research proves whether the fish around the Aleutian Islands and Bristol Bay come from Japan or North America.
On her trip, the "Cobb" gill-netted sockeye and cohoe out past 175° longitude and right around the Aleutian Islands catching salmon on every occasion. They were seriously hampered by heavy weather on the entire trip and fishing was almost impossible.
I was lucky enough to get one of the Califorunia boys to take me around the waterfront and see some of the trollers. The type of boats I saw were smaller and lighter built (with clipper bows) than our west coast trollers. These guys don't use plugs or flashers, but stick to bait.
A lot of boats take sports fishermen out and it seems that this element is more and more coming forward, no wonder when 10 percent of the population of California took out a fishing licence last year.
Right after the new year, four boats are going to go out and really look around for tuna. But they are going to use Japanese basket type long line gear. Apparently when the tuna get older and bigger, they go down deeper and this type of gear is the remedy.
I'd like to say at this time that the people at the conference treated me like a million dollars and went out of their way to get any information I happened to ask about. Also, there seem to be regulations coming up in the very near future for the trolling fleet and you trollers want to get together in the Union and make sure any regulations that are going to be adopted are in the best interests of all'concerned.
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