TheTRherm&n
Representing The Organized Fishermen And Shoreworkers of British Columbia
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I In THIS ISSUE
j ILSLEY BUDGET SPEECH ......................... PAGE 2
1 PACIFIC COAST PILCHARDS..................... PAGE 3
1 EDITORIAL, FEATURES ........................... PAGE 4
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Vol. VIII. No. 22
(341)
VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1946
East End Printers. <»gS*u 2303 E. Hasting) St. PRICE: 5c
EIGHT DOLLAR PILCHARD PRICE WON
Tuna Boat Share Deadlock Continues; New 'Offer' Out
Crews of vessels scheduled to go into the tuna fishing this year will be meeting today to consider a suggestion for settlement of the tie-up now in existence put forward by the Fishing Vessel Owners Association in reply to a union proposal for ending the present deadlock over the boat share.
Agreement has been reached on the principle of arbitrating the 1946 settlement. However, what is to be done pending arbitration is the point
over which the union and vessel owners are at odds.
Operators' suggested plan for settlement is as follows:
That the settlement of all tuna trips for this year be subject to arbitration.
• That, pending arbitration, 15 percent of the gross stock be held back and that the boat share be 27 percent of the gross stock then remaining.
• That both parties agree to accept the recommendation of the arbitration board and that final settlement be made as soon as possible after the close of the season.
• That the Fishermen's settlement Service be named trustee of the "hold-back" fund, and that payments from the fund be authorized by both parties.
This proposed settlement as it now stands, seems certain of rejection, in view of at least one major defect. The union's original demand was for 20 percent of gross stock as in the halibut fishery. Under this settlement proposed by the Vessel Owners, the boat share retained by them would still be 22.95 percent pending arbitration.
The union compromise offered previously contained the following suggestion as stated in a letter to the Fishing Vessel Owners' Association:
"(1) That in all tuna trip settlements during 1946, pending arbitration and the signing of a full agreement with the union, the boat share shall be not more than 25% of the net stock except in the following cases:
"(a) Where regular halibut vessels take tuna crews as large as they normally take on halibut, the boat share shall be a straight halibut lay (20% of gross stock).
"(b) Where regular halibut vessels take less men fishing tuna than they would normally take on halibut that the sharing be done as follows:
• The boat shall first take 20% of the gross stock.
• The crew's clear share with all expenses deducted shall be divided by the number of men who normally fish halibut. The extra share or shares shall then be divided between the boat and the crew, the boat receiving 20% and the remainder divided equally between the crew.
"Our committee recommends that you submit this proposal to your membership for full consideration. We realize that there is still a misunderstanding on what constitutes a crew share but we maintain that when any division, such as is suggested in (b) above is made, that a crew share can only be considered on the
Fish Prices
Following fish prices obtained at Campbell Avenue Dock on Thursday, July 11, at Vancouver.
White Spring Salmon ----10c lb.
Red Spring Salmon:
Large .................... 24c lb.
Medium ................ 20c lb.
Small ................... 14c lb.
Flounders (in round) .... 2c lb. Soles ...................... 8c lb.
Dogfish Livers: (Bought on test.)
Grey Cod Livers .......... 4c lb.
Fresh Grey Cod (dressed) 5c lb.
Live Cod (dressed, headed) 10c lb.
Gillnet Herring .......... 6c lb
SEATTLE (Wednesday, July 10, 1946)
Petrale Sole .............. 5c lb.
Ling Cod . ----,.......... 8c lb-True Cod ................. 6c lb.
Rockfish ..................*%c lb.
Sablefish .................ll^c lb.
Troll Spring Salmon:
Red ..................42c-45c lb.
White ................31c-32c lb.
Silver ................... 81c lb.
basis of what such crew member actually would have received."
Prince Rupert Deepsea Fishermen's Union wired to Vancouver yesterday, stating that they are holding out for the 20 percent halibut boat share basis. It is not certain how many vessels are affected there but it is believed that between the ports of Vancouver, Victoria and Rupert, possibly 40 to 45 are involved.
U.S. Filleters Win Pay Lifts
Filleters' Unions at Grays Harbor and Blaine have recently signed contracts with operators embodying retroactive pay raises and improved working conditions, according to Nick Kuljis, secretary of Otter Trawlers Union No. 53. Both fillet locals operate under the Trawlers Union and Secretary Kuljis played a leading part in the negotiations. The Grays Harbor local signed at $1.25 per hour for filleters while the Blaine union, recently organized by the Trawlers, signed for $1.15 for both filleters and floor workers which constitutes a 15 percent increase over former wages.
Seattle filleters are reported to be receiving $1.2T% per hour, while the scale at Astoria is $1.10.
Graveyard Shift rJfhlstheunfeS?ai Series department patrol vessel Kitimat was snapped at midnight while she was keeping an eye on operations.
0PA END SIGNALS U.S. HALIBUT, SALMON HIKE
Death of the American Office of Price Administration has resulted in soaring food prices with fish of the higher quality types most acutely affected.
Of r*acific coast fish
halibut
and salmon have shown the largest increases.
In Seattle, price of halibut has jumped, according to Wednesday's prices, 12% cents for medium and 11% cents for chix and large. Prices paid for a 63,000 pound trip landed by the Kodiak from Area 3 on July 10 were 29% cents medium, 27% cents chix and large. This price rise brings halibut producer prices approximately equal to what they were in 1943 before OPA set ceilings on this species.
Halibut prices in Prince Rupert for American landings were also showing sharp increases from their previous OPA-con-trolled levels of 15 cents medium
Skeena Gillnetters Make Improved Sockeye Catch
Best average reported so far in sockeye gillnetting operations comes from the Skeena river where with 647 boats operating, average catch on Tuesday of this week was 39 fish per boat. This was an improvement over Monday's average of 22 fish. On Wednesday, however, catches dropped back to about a 30 average with
unsettled weather conditions hav-" of ,ast w.eek, continuing fair for
ing some affect on fishing.
The 145 Naas River gillnetters were reported averaging a fairly steady 25 sockeye per boat this week.
At Rivers Inlet, some 1,100 gillnetters were reported by the fisheries department to be averaging between 15 and 17 fish daily so far this week. With 210 boats fishing at Smith's Inlet, averages were 36 Tuesday of this week, rising from a Monday average of 20 per boat.
In the Bella Bella area, fishing showed improvement this week. Seventy boats Monday averaged 25 fish each.
West coast trolling last week was reported fairly good in the Quatsino sub-district in the area from Reef Point to Cape Cook. Some 22 boats fishing brought in fair catches of spring and coho.
One hundred boats fishing in the area between Kyuquot and Tofino reported generally good catches of spring salmon and moderate coho landings. A\ other points on the west coast catches were just fair.
Forty gulf trollers fishing in the Nanaimo area near Gabriola and Porlier Pass averaged 20 fish per day last week, 18 blueback and two spring.
In the Pender Harbor area, 12 boats operating around Welcome Pas3, Scotch Fir Point, Hornby Island and Agamemnon Channel were averaging 225 pounds of springs and 20 pounds bluebacks last week.
Also during the week ending July 6, 14 boats around Egmont and Sechelt Inlet were averaging 250 pounds of spring salmon and 30 pounds of blueback.
In the vicinity of Lasqueti Island, fair catches of blueback were reported on Monday and Tuesday
the remaining days. Catches in other parts of the Pender Harbor area were light.
Spotty to poor fishing was reported from the Quathiaski area in the vicinity of Cape Mudge. Weather was bad and boats averaged about ten bluebacks apiece daily.
Between 50 and 60 trollers in the Comox area recorded* catches distinctly improved over any previous week in the current season. Average was about 23 fish in the early part of the week, rising to thirty daily towards the week's end.
and 13% cents chix and large.
The Chelan, landing a 38,000 pound trip at the Northerrn port Wednesday, obtained prices of 24% cents medium and 22 cents chix and large.
Alaska halibut prices showed some increases, with Tuesday receipts being paid for at the following prices. Former ceilings are bracketed.
Juneau—12% to 17 cents for chix and large (12%c); 13.75-17.5 cents for medium (13%c).
Ketchikan—18 cents for chix and large (12%c); 18-19 cents for medium (141/ic).
On Monday, for Sitka and Petersburg, prices were:
Sitka—13.7 to 15.5 cents for chix and large (12%c); 17 to 17.5 cents for medium (13% c).
Petersburg—13 cents for chix and large (12%c); 15.3 cents for medium (14c).
Wholesale fish dealers in New York, Wednesday, were paying 40 cents' chix and large, 40 to 43 cents medium. Retailers were selling at considerably beyond this figure.
TROLL SALMON JUMPS
Troll salmon prices responded to OPA suspension immediately, rising approximately 10 cents per pound July 1, and by the end of last week had advanced to 39 cents per pound for red spring salmon, an increase approaching 100 percent above the previous ceilings, while silver (coho) salmon reached prices of 34 cents per pound, or more than 100 percent above the previous ceiling of 16% cents. A total of 41 trollers arrived in Seattle on Monday, July 1, with over 160,000 pounds of salmon to take advantage of increased prices. Salmon prices are now considerably higher than those prevailing three -years ago just prior to the establishment of ceilings.
Prices paid in Seattle, Tuesday, —Continued on Page 8
Wage Increases Sought As Rupert Talks Open
Negotiations have opened front this week for all fresh employed at plants there.
A meeting over cold storage agreement for Seal Cove was held at the plant Wednesday attended by UFAWU business agent Alex Gordon and general secretary William Rigby with the negotiating committee for the employees and N. Hyland and E. L. Harrison for the company.
A meeting was held Wednesday night with the management of Atlin Fisheries. Union negotiators asked that George Clark of Canadian Fishing Company be urged to come to Prince Rupert immediately to conduct negotiations for this operation.
Discussions with the Prince Rupert Co-op board of directors were scheduled to open Thursday night.
on the Prince Rupert water-fish and cold storage workers
Some 180 members of the Prince Rupert local of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union met Tuesday night to draw up wage and hour proposals.
They are asking rates of $1 per hour for cold storage workers, 98 cents for fresh fish (male), and a range of 84 cents to 98 cents for women workers after one year.
On the question of union shop, local members voted to accept maintenance of membership, preferential hiring ^or union members, and a check-off plan as suggested in the report of the conciliation board.
Points In Herring Pact Unsettled, Meeting Monday
Demands of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union for a 1946 pilchard price of $8 per ton shared on an eight-man crew basis were acceded to by operators during negotiations Thursday morning. Decision to accept the union's demand for the $1.50 per ton increase over last year's price of $6.50 came after word had been
received by operators from Ottawa indicating that federal government authorities had agreed to some form of a marketing adjustment.
Two representatives of the operators, S. Rosenberg of the Canadian Fishing Co., and J. Buchanan of B.C. Packers, have been in Ottawa since last week attempting to obtain some change in existing marketing conditions.
The subsidy on fish meal of 10c a protein unit has been withdrawn by the government and a request that the Canadian ceiling price be increased to compensate for the subsidy had been refused. At the same time the embr —i on the export of fish meal to the United States remains in force. The price in the United States of fish meal, already higher than the Canadian level was advanced a further $10 per ton in May by OPA and now OPA controls are removed additional increases are possible.
In reply to the union's proposal that a clause covering a break to allow 10 days in town for pil-
chard crews before going on herring fishing be included in the agreement, the operators, while agreeing in principle, suggested as an alternative a memorandum of understanding providing a maximum of seven days on a staggered basis.
"With reference to the question of a 'time off period for the pilchard fleet before the commencement of herring fishing, it is understood that the principle involved is deemed a proper one.
"Having regard to the necessity of taking advantage of the early run of herring, it is agreed that the mechanics to implement the principle involved shall be determined by a joint committee of the union and the operators in the light of conditions at the time.
"The basis of determination shall take into consideration—
"(at Pilchard fishing conditions based on information supplied by the fleet.
"(b) The time of year.
"(c) Herring fishing conditions.
"(d) Splitting of the fleet into two sections for the 'time off pe-—Continued on Page 8
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Salmon Pack Guessing ( Contest Starting Soon
This year, as in 1945, The Fisherman is sponsoring a sal- I
mon pack guessing contest open to all readers. Idea is to come m
as close as possible to the total number of cases of all species J
canned in B.C. during the entire season. Entry forms with B
full details will be published in the July 19 and August 2 issues 1
of The Fisherman. There will be three cash prizes with any (
reader permitted to enter. Closing date will also be announced §
next week. In the meantime, below is the first salmon pack 5
bulletin issued by the fisheries department covering the season S
up to July 6, 1946: S
District I District 2
Naas &. Skeena Other Areas
Week Endings SOCKEYE— July 6, 1946 July 7, July 8, July 3, July 4, July 5, 1941 SPRINGS— July 6, 1946 July 7 July 8, July 3, July 4, July 5,
District 3 Totals 8
1945 1944 1943 1942
""945 1944 1943 1942 1941
STEELHEADS— July 6, 1946 ____
July 7,
July 8,
July 3,
July 4,
July 5,
1945 1944 1943 1942 1941
BLUEBACKS—
July 6, 1946 . .
July 7, 1945 ..
July 8, 1944 ..
July 3, 1943 . .
July 4, 1942 . .
July 5, 1941 . . COHO—
July 6, 1946 . .
1945 1944 1943 1942 1941
July July July July July
1945 1944 1943 1942 1941
July 7, July 8, July 3, July 4, July 5, PINKS— July 6, 1946 7, 8, 3, 4, 5,
CHUMS—
July 6, 1946 July 7, 1945 July 8, 1944 July 3, 1943 July 4, 1942 July 5, 1941 TOTALS— July 6, 1946 July 7, 1945 July 8, 1944 July 3, 1943 July 4, 1942 July 5, 1941
MM
1433 8168 1539 791 11931
3760 21234% 6220 874 32088%
3079 22202 8428 544 34253
898 5529 251 12 6690
2184 8418 2108% 1775 14485%
2982 10666 5513 2419 21580
99 326% 178 34 637%
883 512 184 27 1606
289 862 170 58 1379
99 " 519 17 635
123 3533 74 8 3738
1984 1207 163 578 3932
5 18% 185 16 224%
14 15 119 148
24 58 151. 233
2 4 6
13 45 5 63
7 28 67 69 171
1439% 38 1477%
5394% 5394%
7648 7648
7440 7440
12749% 19 12768%
12507 5657 18164
2496% 562% 433 39 3531
668 157% 252 13 1090%
1453 45 187 6 1691
11 419 17 447
1286 90 70% 1653 3099%
6447 3912 296 6509 17164
5 72 67 5 149
2 156 8 166
54 66 188 2 310
14 14
2 34 36
O 159 6 168
19 69 41 17 146
2 438 35 475
14 425 61 500
180 180
2 205 7 214
36 254 87 41 418
5497 9216% 2443 940 18096%
10723% 22513 .6818 914 40968%
12561 23658 9185 610 46014
8448 6663 289 12 15412
16344% 12261 2339 3460 344044
23966 16226 6132 15273 61597