ThefiJherm&n
Representing the Organized Fishermen of British Columbia
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VOL. V. No. 17
(208)
VANCOUVER, B.C., TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1943
Broadway,
PRICE: 5 Cents
They're Happy—First In, A Good Catch, A Good Price
♦
The San Juan No. 2 was the first halibut vessel to bring in its load of fish to Vancouver after the official opening of the 1943 season. Above are the crew of the vessel with the exception of Captain Nels Floe who was at the Halibut Exchange when the picture was taken. Left to right, the crew members (all union men) are: H. Lund, Ben Fylling, Sam Nybo, Arne Vilvang, Alf Kleppe, John Hansen (not crew member) and John Baustead. _—(Van. Province Photo.)
Halibut Boats Assured Adequate Food Supplies
The first victory for the campaign that this paper and fishermen's organizations have been conducting for a sensible rationing system for the fishing fleet was registered on Monday when the decision was announced that vessels in the halibut fleet would be permitted to obtain food supplies by using requisition form RB 21.
-♦ Use of this form has hitherto
KENN FALLS DRAWS FINE
Pleading guilty to a charge of catching halibut during the closed season, John Fagerland, master* of the halibut boat, Kenn Falls, was fined $200 with the alternative of two months in jail, by Magistrate C. L. Filmore in district Police Court.
In addition, the magistrate ordered forfeited to the crown all halibut which had been caught by the Kenn Falls before the fishing season opened at midnight on April 15.
W. F. Campbell appeared for the
Three Seiners Launched
The third of three government-subsidized fishboats launched within two days was sent down the ways Wednesday night in Vancouver, the Mermaid II, built for Cleto Ferrario at Harbor Boat Works.
Also launched Wednesday night was the Tatchu, built at Men-chion's for James Goodlad and Joe Gregory, of B.C. Packers.
The 78-foot Nelson Bros.' fish-boat, Western Mariner, was launched at Star Shipyard (Mercers) at New Westminster, Tuesday. y
Fish Prices
Vancouver:
Following wholesale fish prices obtained at Campbell Avenue Dock at Vancouver on April 26:
White Spring Salmon________13c lb.
Bed Spring Salmon___________21c lb.
Flounders _____________________2i4c lb.
Soles .___........__Large 6c, Small 4c
Ling Cod Livers__________90c lb.
Point Grey Herring___________7c lb.
Dogfish Livers ........................28c lb.
Grey Cod  Livers ..................4c lb.
Fresh Grey Cod--------4c lb.
Live Cod ....______......____.....______J2c lb.
Seattle:
Seattle fish prices for April 22 were as follows:
Ling Cod Livers ........$1.00-$1.50 lb.
Dogfish Livers ..............._______85c lb.
Lingcod ....................................10c lb.
been confined to the armed forces, the Department of Munition and Supply for naval, military and air services, the Canadian Red Cross Society, for export only, and ships not operating on fixed quotas. Halibut boats wili now fall in the last category and will be able by the use of this form to obtain the food supplies needed by fishermen to meet the conditions of their labor and to make provision for emergencies.
The decision constitutes recognition of the fact that the special conditions under which fishermen work cannot be covered by the present rationing system. On the fishing grounds commercial fishermen work on average of 18 hours a day and are therefore compelled to serve more meals to their crews than other ships. There is no opportunity for fishermen to augment their rations by restaurant meals, nor is there any possibility of establishing industrial canteens as is done in some other industries.
The character of meals on the grounds particularly on small craft with small crews is quite different to those served in the average home or restaurant. There is little time for cooking and meals consist to a great extent of coffee or tea and bread and butter. Working long hours and performing strenuous labor an average of six meals a day is the rule. It is impossible to be certain on leaving port when a vessel will return. If fishermen were only to be allowed to take on board an amount of food covered by the current ration coupons of the crew, emergencies that delayed their return to port would leave them without food on board.
The decision to allow fishing vessels to obtain food supplies by using form RB—21 is so far confined to the halibut fleet. Representations are now being made by fishermen's organizations to obtain a similar decision for trollers and gillnetters.
Date	Vessel	NetWgt.
April 17	Kenn Falls	3,000 lbs.
April 21	San Juan 2	21,000 lbs.
April 21	Princeton	15,500 lbs.
April 21	Elwin S	14,000 lbs.
April 24	Funkis	17,500 lbs.
April 26	Tugwell n	8,000 lbs.
April 26	Prosperity A	21,000 lbs.
Halibut Landings
Vancouver
Price
34c Chicken 33c Medium
35c 85c 35c 35c
31.3c and 31.2c 31c   and 30.5c
Buyer
Edmunds & Walker Edmunds & Walker Edmunds & Walker Edmunds & Walker
Western Fish Co.
Western Fish Co.
Western Fish Co.
Canadian Fish Co.
Prince Rupert
Weight Landed
Date
No. of Vessels Price
Chickens Medium April 17 5,500 lbs. 3 20c 23c
April 21 5,000 lbs. 1 25c 30c
April 22 30,000 lbs. 4 25c 80.5-30-8c
Halibut prices on Monday, April 26, at Prince Rupert reported 18c and 20c;  Ketchikan, 16c; Juneau,' 13c; Vancouver, 31c;  Seattle, 36c.
Outlook For Halibut Prices Uncertain As Landings Rise
The much discussed question of whether or not price ceilings will be introduced by the Canadian and American governments on fresh halibut landings remains unanswered as we go to press. Prices so far this season have been the highest on record in the industry with all deliveries to date being shipped to the fresh fish markets. A downward trend, however, was noted Monday in Prince Rupert sales when prices dropped from approximately 30c per pound to 20c for medium, and 18c for chicken.
As previously reported, Canadian fishermen  had  asked  for  a flat
^fitheAttock
FISHERMEN'S RESERVE SEEKS RECRUITS
Skipper - Coxswain Duncan A. Sim of the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve (Fishermen's Reserve) will be in Vancouver on Wednesday and Thursday of this week to interview prospective recruits for the Fishermen's Reserve.
For some time fishermen who received call-up notices and others wishing to enlist have been keenly disappointed on making inquiries to find that no vacancies were available to enable them t© join the Fishermen's Reserve which, because of their background and knowledge, would have been the service of their chioce.
It now appears that a limited number of openings for enrollment in the fishermen's reserve will become available in the near future. Skipper-Coxwain Duncan A. Sim may be interviewed during his stay in Vancouver at the office of the Naval Officer-in-charge, Room 408, Marine Building, and he will arrange for a medical examination of prospective recruits.
Only men with definite fishing experience are required and these only in limited numbers so that undoubtedly it will take very little time for the prospective vacancies to be filled.
price guarantee throughout the entire halibut season by order-in-councll. During the past week, A. N. McLean, assistant administrator of the War Time Prices and Trade Board, addressed a letter to the fishermen and vessel owners' organizations informing them that his department was quite willing to carry through the recommendations made by the fishermen. He adds, however, that "we have felt that this order should not be issued until a similar order was issued in the United States and apparently up until now they have not been able to make the necessary progress to make a definite announcement."
Meanwhile fishermen are enjoying the present high prices for their product, but many are expressing concern as to future price trends when the volume of landings makes it necessary for buyers to place into cold storage those amounts in excess' of fresh fish market requirements. When and if this condition arises, bidding over the exchanges will naturally be Based upon the price ceilings that have already been placed by the government on frozen halibut, which would mean a sharp reduction from present price levels.
In aggregate size of annual landings British Columbia ranks first among the Canadian sea fisheries provinces, with Nova Scotia second, New Brunswick next, then Quebec and Prince Edward Island in order.
I
Fishermen To March In May Day Parade
All fishermen are asked to assemble at Cambie Street Grounds this Sunday at 1 p.m. to march under the banner of the United Fishermen's Union in Labor's May Day Victory parade.
Final arrangements for the parade and rally have now been completed. The Naval Band from Esquimalt will take part in the ceremonies and the Vancouver Firemen's band will lead the parade from the assembly point at Cambie Street Grounds along Cambie to Hastings, along Hastings to Burrard, along Burrard to Georgia, and along Georgia to Stanley Park. Brockton Point Oval will be the scene of a huge rally which will be addressed by many well known public figures.
- Major General G. R. Pearkes
Maw nay CDrAlfCDC of the Pacific Command has notified Vancouver May Day Com-mittee of his acceptance of the invitation to address the rally. Pat Sullivan, president, Canadian Seammen's Union and vice-president Canadian Trades and Labor Congress will be flying to the coast from Ottawa to speak.
Other speakers listed include: City Councillor Hugh DeLacy of Seattle, president of the Washington Commonwealth Federation; Herbert Herridge, CCF MLA for Trail; William Stewart, thrice elected president of the Boilermakers' Union, Local 1, Fergus McKean, representing the Communist-Labor Total War Committee, E. E. Leary, president, Vancouver Labor Council, with Nigel Morgan, International Board Member of the IWA as chairman.
A feature of the May Day Celebration will be the dedication of a pylon symbolical of labor unity. This pylon is being designed by Mr. Fred Amess, of the Vancouver Art School, with the help of the students of the night school classes. The pylon will be dedicated at the Brockton Point Oval, and will later be placed at the corners of Car-rail and Ha*tings St. opposite the B.C. Electric depot.
The design will feature the three armed forces and four basic war industries, the whole overhung with flags of the United Nations. At the top of the pylon a flame will be lighted as a pledge of continuance of labor's fight until the defeat of the Axis powers.
One feature of the parade will be a float with representatives of the various allied nations dressed in native costumes, each carrying the flag of their homeland.
The parade and rally is being held this year in conjunction with the Fourth Victory Loan Drive and will have as its main slogan "Everything for the Offensive-Back the Attack."
MAJOR-GEN. G. B. PEARKES
PAT SULLrVAN
BOMBING RANGE PROTEST UNDER CONSIDERATION
Protest by the United Fishermen's Union against the establishment of air firing ranges along the east coasts of Galiano and Valdes Islands has been communicated to the chief supervisor of fisheries who in turn has brought the matter to the attention of the Department at Ottawa.
In the meantime the latest series of notices to mariners establishes the boundaries of these ranges. The firing range previously established along the east coast of Galiano Island is extended to cover practically the entire coast from Porlier Pass to a point close to Active Pass. It extends to a distance of about four miles from the coast. A new range is established along the east coast of Valdes Island; this extends above Flat Top Island and would seriously inconvenience fishermen using Gabriola Reefs and Pass. A practice bombing range has also been established in Trincomali Channel off the northeastern coast of Saltspring Island, between Walker hook and Governor rock, the danger area being a circle of 900 yards radius with a floating target as a centre.
Major Motherwell in drawing the protest of local fishermen to the attention of the Department pointed out that the fishing area in the immediate vicinity of Gabriola Reefs is a valuable fishing ground for grayfish and ling cod and that the restriction of the free use of the main channel of Gabriola Pass would be a serious handicap to the fishing industry.
B.C. Clipper Meets Bad Luck
The B.C. Clipper, Capt. Martin Dyke, leaving Namu on her first trip of the season to the halibut banks struck a reef off Kiwash Island Light about two miles out of Namu. She was nevertheless able to proceed under her own power back to Namu and from there to Ocean Falls where she was put on the ways for inspection.
It was found that a large portion of her keel was smashed and there was considerable damage done to the planking. After temporary repairs she was able to come back to Vancouver. According to some of the crew the necessary repairs will take about a month and will result in considerable loss to owner and crew because of lost fishing time. We sincerely hope to see the Clipper back in service in the shortest possible time.
FILET OF CARP FINDS EAGER BUYERS
BOISE, Idaho, April 17.—Filet of carp and suckers, removed from Idaho streams, is being sent to California for human consumption, Idaho Fish Culturlst Burton Per-inne disclosed.
Carp, suckers, tench, bullheads and other rough fish are being removed from Idaho streams to eliminate a threat" to game fish.