TheTIJherm&n
Representing The Organized Fishermen And Shoreworkers of Brit ish Columbia
CO-OP FISHERMEN CALLED TO VANCOUVER MEET
A special meeting of all cooperative fishermen in Vancouver, particularly Prince Rupert men, has been called by The Fishermen's Co-op Federation for:
TUESDAY, APRIL 20, AT 10 A.M.
Fishermen's Hall 138 East Cordova St.
Vol. X. No. 13
(412)
VANCOUVER, B.C., APRIL, 16, 1948
Union Printers
PRICE 5c
Group One Halibutters
Go April 28
Sailing order of the 1948
Aatfdac fleet well Ik tiaally\ §§ decided today at a meeting ol Vancouver, vessel ovme^ and Union fishermen. Union members voted last week that the fleet would sail in two groups, and it seems certain that this will be the procedure.
Embargo Clarified In Letter 7o Union
Three questions posed by the United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union asking chief supervisor of fisheries A. J. Whitmore for clarification of the federal government order-in-council controlling export o{ raw salmon to the United States, were answered in a letter received by the Union Thursday. The questions and the answers \
given by the federal fisheries de-
Date of the first group leaving port will be one minute past midnight on April 28 and second group will sail on May 2, five days later.
Those boats which sailed in the first group last year will be in the second group this season and names of all new boats will be drawn to determine which group they will sail in.
The Seattle fleet has agreed on sailing in two groups as long as Canada and Alaska will conform to this scheme. Word has been received from the Vessel Owners Association of Prince Rupert that they, too, are agreeable, but as yet the Deep Sea Fishermen's Union of Prince Rupert and the Alaska fishermen have not been heard from.
All indications are that the season will be the shortest on record, and all preparations are being made along the Vancouver waterfront to ensure that there will be no delays in fishing time.
The area 2 season last year closed at midnight of June 8 after 39 days of fishing. There was, however, a strike of the Seattle fleet which kept all vessels in port during the entire area 2 season. With these vessels back in the fishing this year, the season will be a scramble and will likely end
nifiacta* This is an illustration done by Jack Me Kim l/lSdSlcr of White Rock for Pete Nordstrand's short story on page 8 of this issue.
Shore Talk Proceed; Meetings Next Week
Negotiations for 1948 cannery, net and reduction plant agreements are still incomplete, according to Alex Gordon, business agent of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union, and negotiations are proceeding.
Tuna Fleet Meetings Set By Fish Dep't
A full negotiating meeting between operators and cannery, net, and reduction plant Union representatives has been arranged for Monday, April 19, following which details will be available for next issue of The Fisherman.
As matters now stand, companies have offered a monthly increase for cannery, net, and reduction workers amounting to about $16, varying according to the classiflca-ery of B.C. will be discussed | tion. For women
i partment are as follows:
Q. Will there be any restrictions on shipments in frozen form, and if so, what are the dates on which such shipments may be made.
A. The order-in-council does not contemplate restrictions as to shipping dates for frozen sockeye, pinks, chums, or after September 1, cohoe.
Q. Will there be any restrictions as to frequency of shipment or as to amounts in any particular shipment?
A. No restrictions are contemplated as to frequency of shipment or quantities.
Q. Will there be any restrictions as to persons, companies, or organizations which may ship in frozen form?
A. No restrictions are contemplated as to persons, companies, or organizations shipping frozen salmon, providing such are legally authorized to operate business in B.C. A meeting of the UFAWU executive board on Saturday, April 24, and the joint Union-Native Brotherhood salmon conference on April 26, will work out the policy to be adopted in relation to the salmon embargo.
J
Expansion of the tuna fish- j
Facts Prove Canners Had Plenty Of Chums To Can
Figures taken from U.S. official records show the following shipment of frozen chums from B.C. to Seattle (to closest 1000 lbs.)
1946— December ............................. 221,000 lbs.
1947— For Year ............................ 991,000 lbs.
1948— January .............................. 192,000 lbs.
1948—February .............................. 80,000 lbs.
1948—March ................................ 1,135,000 lbs.
1948—April ......... ........................ 752,000 lbs.
The April figure is for the period April 1 to 14 only.
Mr. MacKinnon has evidently been misled by false propaganda when he stated in the house that when the embargo on chums was lifted last fall (on October 15) "our canners, thus deprived of the raw materials, were obliged to suspend salmon canning operations in the latter part of the season."
It is a wellknown fact that the chums which were bought from the fishermen when the embargo was removed were shipped fresh. If the canners were compelled to stop canning chums because they had no raw materials, why are they now shipping millions of pounds of frozen chums bought from the fishermen last year when the embargo was on at prices ranging bteween three and four cents per pound? Those who are making these shipments at present are either selling these chums at eighteen to nineteen cents a pound to American canners or are themselves canning these Canadian chums in the United Stated with United States labor to avoid the 25 percent tariff on Canadian canned salmon entering the United States.
cannery onv
at meetings arranged by the I ployees, they have proposed eight Department of Fisheries, ac- j cents per hour across the board,
Last season there were 992 hali- j from Mr. A. J. Whitmore, I raise in salmon filling rates Op- / but licenses issued in British ^Col- j chief supervisor of fisheries, [erators have proposed a five percent
First meeting, open to all fish-1.increase for herring piece work ermen of the fleet and other in- rates.
in
have
it is total
umbia and although few been issued so far this year predicted that last year's
li k »-r«»»H*r? terested groups, will be held
^liars' Dahfand Harry A.sJ^f have been appointed by the Union s to cover the Vancouver waterfront
in order to check on fishermen going out on halibut this year and to ensure maximum union membership.
weeks later, on May 4 at the same time, a seeond meeting will take place in Victoria at room 500, the board room of the Belmont building. A welcome has been
All other points have been discussed in talks held up to the present and some minor points have been agreed upon.
How Fisheries Minister MacKinnon "Explained" The Embargo In The House
On Friday, April 9, Minister of Fisheries J. A. MacKinnon made a statement in the House, announcing the government's decision to place an embargo on shipment of fresh chums, sockeye and pinks to the U.S., and on coho after September 1, leaving shipment of springs uncontrolled. Since the minister's reasons for the government's decision will be of interest to our readers, we are printing verbatim the Hansard report of the statement and discussion .which followed it. We have taken the liberty of emphasizing certain sections of Mr. MacKinnon's speech. A. MacKinnon (Minister
Hon. J. of Fisheries)
to refer to
Mr. Speaker, a matter of
I wish special
Bowlers Enjoy
.ommodore
'D,
Several meetings have been held over fresh fish and cold storage extended to all fishermen and or-1 rates and conditions for the 19481 importance to management and ganizations interested in the tuna season and up to date, companies tebor engaged in the salmon ftsh-fishery. Personal invitations have \ have offered an eight cents per\ery industry in British Columbia.
been sent to all fishermen who took out tuna licences last year.
Purpose of these meetings will i be to discuss the question of assistance by departmental vessels, as announced earlier in the year. UFAWU bowlers wound up their j Details of arrangements which
1947-48 season last Saturday with a bang-up affair at the Commodore cabaret after a successful
season at the alleys.
Instead of making awards to top teams and individual bowlers this year, it was decided by the players that funds would be used to pay for the banquet and dance which was termed a "big success' by League Secretary Ronnie Duff.
Team members are looking forward to a good '48-'49 season, the start of which will be given advance notice in The Fisherman so that all unionists may participate.
should be made to best serve the
hour increase for male workers and three cents for women but have stated their opposition to the requested 40-hour week and any extension of double-time overtime pay. Agreement seems likely on seniority proposals of the Union, UFAWU officials say, but union
interests of Canadian fishermen [ shop proposals have been rejected during the approaching season,
mil be considered in addition do
dealing with other important points that may be involved.
Dr. Foerster, director of the Pacifio Biological station at Nanaimo, has indicated that he and senior officers of his staff will be present. Captains of the fishery vessels who will likely be assigned to this particular duty will also attend.
Over 90 boats took out licences from the department to fish for tuna last year.
Tendermen, Collectors
SPECIAL MEETING
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21 AT 2 P.M.
• 1948 Negotiation Report
Vancouver Local
THURSDAY. APRIL 22
7.30 P.M.
• Salmon Embargo 0 '48 Price Proposals
Fishermen's Hall
Halibut Fishermen
FRIDAY, APRIL 23 2 P.M
Fishermen's Hall
A meeting of all fresh fish and cold storage orkers will be called next week by the Union to hear a full report of negotiations up to that time, and details will appear in the April 23 issue- of The Fisherman.
Women's Auxiliary Meets April 27
Regular monthly meeting of the Vancouver Women's Auxiliary will be held at the Fisher-man's Hall, 138 East Cordova, Tuesday, April 27 at 8 p.m.
All members are urged to come and hear Homer Sevens who will present a report of the Fourth Annual UFAWU Convention.
Fish Prices
VANCOUVER Prices to fishermen at Campbell Avenue dock, Thursday, April 15: Spring Salmon — no landings
Sole........................ 8c lb.
Grey Cod (d.h.on) ........ 5c lb.
Flounder .................. 3c lb.
Ling Cod ............... 8-10c lb.
Skate ..................... 8c lb.
Point Grey Herring...... 6-7c lb.
Dogfish Liver — on test
Rock, Red Cod .......... 4c lb.
SEATTLE Wednesday, April 14
Petrale Sole .............. 7c lb.
English Sole .............. 6c lb.
Rockfish ................ 4<«.c lb.
•True Cod (round)........ 6c lb.
Ling Cod (dressed) ...... 8c lb.
TROLL FISHERY
Spring
Large ............... 87-38c lb.
^mall ............... 37-38c lb.
White ............... 37-38c lb.
As members will recall, the government late last fall withdrew its control on the export of certain species of raw salmon to the United States.
This permitted United States buyers, who were offering higher prices, to obtain substantial quantities of Canadian raw salmon which othewise would have been canned fey our /nrfusfry f*or domestic and export markets. Our canners, thus deprived of the raw materials, were obliged to suspend salmon canning operations in the latter part of the season.
The government has been concerned with the possibility of a more serious dislocation of salmon canning throughout the 1948 operating season. Separate submissions were heard from representatives of the canners, labor union and cooperatives, all of whom desired the maintenance of the British Columbia canning industry, notwithstanding some differences of opinion as to the sharing of their respective responsibilities in meeting this end. The government feels that some corrective steps must be taken to safeguard both fishermen and management. The most desirable solution seemed to be a measure of stabilization of the canning industry while at the same time assuring increased export of the raw material to the United States.
I wish therefore, to announce that, effective immediately, B.C. fishermen are permitted to export to the United States unrestricted quantities of raw spring salmon. Export of raw coho is also permitted, but only up to September 1 of this year. Raw sockeye, pinks and chums, will be retained in Canada.
I want especially to emphasize that this decision Is simply a ruling that is designed to give balanced treatment to management and fishermen. It Is not an embargo. It necessitates, of course, reasonable compromises oi! both sides.
I am satisfied that the decision reached by the cabinet will provide equitable safeguard for man-
agement in maintaining its canning industry and for fishermen by leaving the way open for them to take advantage of the higher prices paid on the U.S. market for springs and coho.
I might add here that the normal export to the U.S. of all species of canned, salted, smoked, cured, j frozen salmon is not, of course, j affected by the ruling.
Mr. Maclnnis: May I ask a question of the Minister of Fish-I eries? He said that this regulation did not constitute an embargo. Mr. MacKinnon: It does not. Mr. Maclrmls: Does it mean that, despite the regulations, sockeye, pinks and chums may not be exported and if they may not, isn't that an embargo?
Mr. MacKinnon: It may be construed as a partial embargo, but it allows certain species of salmon to be exported to the U.S. market, retaining others at home.
Mr. Pearkes: Can the minister say what steps are being taken to ensure • a market for all the salmon that can be canned in our canneries?
Mr. MacKinnon; From our conversations with the industry, and it is the opinion of our own officials, we believe that the catch which will be canned this year in Canada will find sufficient markets, domestic and foreign. On the orders of the day: Mr. Archibald: I should like to ask a further question of the Minister of Fisheries. Owing to the fact that the embargo on chums is a serious blow to the fishermen's cooperatives on the coast, will the minister consider referring this matter to the fisheries committee where the cooperatives could present their case?
Mr. MacKinnon: We have gone very fully into the matter. Mr. Speaker. We listened to representations from the fishermen's union, the cooperatives who are both fishermen and canners, and the canners. I think the decision we arrived at, and which I have just announced, is a fair settlement of the difficulty at the present time.
(later)
Mr. Manross: I should like to ask a question of the Minister of Fisheries. Now that he has taken care of the sockeyes, chums, and pinks, will he try to export the reds?
Dollars
and
Sense
By William Rigby
Research Director, UFAWU
J HAVE been asked by various members what reasons prompted the decision of the Annual Convention of our Union to establish a research department as a permanent part of the organization. No doubt in the course of its development a great variety of assignments will toe given to this department, although the term "department" at present describes an aspiration rather than a realised fact. The first responsibility placed upon the director by the General Executive Board is to provide the factual data that will enable our. Union to most effectively represent the wishes of our members in negotiations with employers on agreements and discussions with governments on legislation and regulations.
A weak organization can have the strongest case in the world but may never win a point as long as it is weak.
Our organization was originally founded to bring or save dollars (Canadian) for our members. We are a strong organization, not only in numbers but in the unity that has been established in our ranks as a result of long experience. The convention evidently considered that if we talk sense, and continue to keep our powder dry, the dollars will look after themselves.
★ *
The game of dollars, dollars, who's got the dollars (particularly American) is still proceeding merrily. Canada hasn't got any spare American dollars and Britain lacks both the Canadian and American variety. Last year's canned salmon contract with Great Britian could not be carried out for this
SEE
DOLLARS AND SENSE —Page 8
