Thefiiherm&n
Representing the Organized Fishermen of British Columbia
Boost the Sub Drive and Helu Us
Survive
VOL. ID. No. 12.
(98)
VANCOUVER, B.C., TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1940
PRICE: 5 Cents
Seiner Wrecked; Two Men Lost
-a
Victoria Labor Leaders Acquitted
N. Coe Gains Freedom After Being Changed Under Defense Laws
Norman C. Coe, Assistant Secretary of the Inlandboatmen's Unioin at Victoria, has been acquitted of charges laid under the War Measures Act at Duncan, Vancouver Island. Coe, together with three other trade unionists, was on his way to Nanaimo to attend a meeting to set up a Vancouver Is. labor council. While passing through Duncan the provincial police stopped them and on searching the car found some literature which the court averred was of a subversive charaoter. This literature was placed in the car by a person who was given a ride to Nanaimo by the other four.
William Shaw, a member of the Machinist's Union of Victoria, was tried and found guilty and sentenced to a year in jail. Trade unionists who attended the trial were so incensed at the manner in which the trial was conducted, which appeared to them to be a deliberate attempt to' railroad the trade unionists to prison. A delegation composed of A. McAuslane, Western organizer of the Canadian Congress of Labor, Ed. Boyd, representative of District 18, United Mine Workers of America, and other prominent trade union leaders interviewed George S. Pearson, provincial minister of labor, Gordon S. Wismer, attorney-general, of the province, stating that the men on trial had proved over a period of years that they were bona fide sincere trade unionists working in the interests of the labor movement and that organized labor as represented by this delegation was standing foursquare behind the accused men and was determined that they were to receive a fair trial. Through the efforts of this delegation Norman Coe was acquitted and it appears likely that the other two who have yet to stand trial will also be acquitted.
The case of William Shaw is to be taken to the appeal court. The members of the delegation are to be highly commended and congratulated on the stand taken by them in defense of their brother trade unionists. To our knowledge this is the first time that anyone tried under the Defense of Canada Regulations has been acquitted.
DRIVE HIGHLIGHTS
"Please send two or three of your subscription books as soon as possible," writes Mrs. Silvey of Beid Island. "Christmas is coming and Twenty Dollars would come in mighty handy." This means business and we believe Mrs. Silvey Is not gomg to give up that prize without putting up a good fight for it. Mrs. Cogswell also writes this week sending in some more subs and says her husband, Uus, claims that taking the prize is "just like taking candy irom a kid." They seem mighty optimistic about it too.
From the male section comes word of Bill Olsen who says, "I'm gomg to Keep trying to get subs, drive or no drive,' which is a good sentiment. John Matanic was in town this week too with some more suds to keep himself comfortably in the lead so far. He says Nick Kopatic will have to get up awfully early and go to bed awfully late to beat him to first place in the sub drive.
Well, there we have it, some real good boosters showing the rest of the readers the way to get into the swing of the drive. We are proud of these people who so enthusiastically lend their full support to our drive and we feel that by doing so they are showing how conscious they are of the true value ol the printed word.
You cannot all get 20 and 30 subs but you can all get 2 or 3 and it is those 2's and 3's that make up the 20's and 30's, so again we appeal to you to do your share.
BOOST THE SUB DRIVE AND HELP US SURVIVE !
FLASH !
Just cama in the morning — 9 more subs from Nick Kopatic, to tie with John Matanic for the lead in the drive. There ought to be blood flying from now on. (Who are you betting on?)
BRALORNE, B.C. — Workers at Bralorne gold mine have rejected a company committee as their bargaining agent and approved Local 271 of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers by a majority of 81, it was announced last week. The union is now demanding $1.00 daily increase which the company council failed to press.
Gillnet Found
The Department of Fisheries has advised that on the 11th instant, Patrolman H. J. Cooke of Sechelt advised that a salmon gillnet bearing the marks "KK 1293 Phenix Cannery" was found by Mr. W. Stone of Northwest Bay, Sechelt, recently.
Mr. Cooke, in company with the Provincial Constable, went out to the spot at which the net was located and attempted to salvage it, but without success as it was hard aground on a reef approximately one-quarter mile east of Northwest Bay and seventy-five yards offshore opposite the extreme west end of Trail Island.
Seattle halibut fishermen got an average price of 10%c per pound this season for their halibut as compared with 8%c a year ago. This is their season for hull and gear overhaul, but many of the smaller craft have turned to fishing for black cod, ling and red cod, despite the rough fall and winter weather.
How To Tell When Your Sub Is Expired
You will notice on the line with the date at the top of the front page, a number in brackets (in this issue the number is 98. This is the number of the present issue of the paper. You will also notice up beside your name and address is stamped a number. * „
This number beside your name is the number of the issue when your subscription runs out. Thus if the number opposite your name and the number on the date line at the top of the front page is the same then your subscription expires with that issue.
However, we are enclosing expiration notices with all the papers to those people whose subs are expiring, but in case your notice is overlooked, you can tell just how you stand and whether you need to renew your subscription or not.
Seine Boat "Liberty" Before And After Wrecfe
Seine Boat 'Liberty' Wrecked On West Coast
Two Men Lost As
IH-Fated Vessfc' Hits Rocks
The heavy seas of the west coast of Vancouver Island claimed two more victims last week when the seiner Liberty was thrown against the rocks outside of Useless Inlet. The five survivors from the seven-man crew, now all in Vancouver, are Walter Carr, skipper; John Lenic, John Katnich, Matt Jurjevich and Jimmy Richardson. George Stilnovich, aged 51, of 725 Kaslo Street, died a few seco*nds after he was taken aboard the packer Gospak, which was standing by. Augustine Carr, brother of the skipper, was last seen swimming toward shore. His body has not as yet been recovered.
The story of the wreck was told $ to The Fisherman by John Lenic,
CLOSURE
The department of fisheries announce the closure to net fishing, of that portion of Area 14 adjacent to Uomox jpenin-sula being the waters between Vancouver Island and a straight line drawn from Cape Lazo to the most westerly point of Hornby Island.
This closure is for the balance of the season from Sunday, November 17th.
a member of the crew.
"It was 4 a.m. in the morning when we made our set," he said. "It was not very rough but the tides seemed to carry our net right around the boat. Our tender, the Adriatic Star, could not tow us out and it took a long time to clear ourselves. The wind began to blow quite hard and it was very difficult to fleet the net. We were still working with the net about 3 or 4 hours later and the wind was turning into a real gale which started to drift the boat toward the shore. The tow line from the tender broke five times. We had about 70 or 80 ton of fish in the net but we let them go and called to the Gospak, another tender close by, to help. Their tow line broke twice. Then we tried to use our own power to get the boat away from the rocks but the skiff line got caught in the propellor and stopped our engine. The engine was started again but stopped the second time. By this time we were on the rocks. The skipper yelled to us to jump. I went to get a life belt and threw one to George Stilnovich. He put it on and jumped into the water. Walter and Augustine Carr jumped into the water with all their clothes on and never had life belts on. The rest of us put our life belts on and took our heavy clothing off. The Gospak came as close as it could to help us. The two young fellows on the Gospak could not lift George out of the water and he was not able to pull himself up, so the skipper and I got on boaru first and helped pull him up. We worked about three hours to try to revive him but with no success. The other members of the crew, Matt Jurjevich, Jimmy Richardson and John Katnich, had jumped on a big rock near where the boat had struck and from there were able to reach shore. Augustine came towardd the Gospak but then headed for shore, later. He must While in Victoria, Brother Bur-have got a cramp. The water was gess wm take up matters of Work-very cold. The skipper had a cramp | men's Compensation for fishermen after he got out of the water and and amendments to the Industrial
East Coast Fishermen Announce Big Organizational Drive
LOCKEPORT, N.S. — Captain Ben MacKenzie, president of the Canadian Fishermen's and Fish-handlers' Union, has been appointed interim director of organization for the fishermen on the east coast, it was announced here last week. A drive to bring into the ranks of organized labor 20,000 fishermen will be inaugurated upon his return to the maritime provinces. The objective of the Canadian Fishermen's and Fish-handlers' Union will be a coast-wide agreement covering all the fishermen on the east coast.
Before the new year an additional 20 organizers will be placed in the field by the fishermen's union and it is expected that the entire coast will be organized before the end of March 1941.
At the present time the fishermen have 11 active locals in the main ports on the Atlantic coast, all of whom will send delegates to a conference which has been planned to convene some time next month.
to Ecoole which is near where the | other fellows had landed on shore. Two or three members of the crew off the Ivana together with Walter Carr, our skipper, went to look for the boys. However, they went in the opposite direction to that which the boys had taken and the boys reached Ecoole first. They had walked six miles with no shoes and very little clothing on. Matt Jurjevich was quite badly injured in the knee as well. A doctor came to Ecoole to look them over and took Matt to the hospital at Port Alberni.
"The rest of us were brought to Vancouver. It was an accident which very rarely happens. We never thought of any danger at all, when we first made our set. Everything seemed to go wrong but we were lucky to have the Captain Jim Gillespie and the Gospak there or it would have been worse."
The funeral services for George Stilnovich were held in the Home Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, October 20th. Bill Burgess, secretary of the United Fishermen's Union, spoke briefly at the graveside.
Award Favors Slight Wage Increases
The award in the case of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union with the Vancouver Hotel has now been handed down. It recommends slight increases in wages of waiters, bus boys, housemen, pantry-men and employees in the steward's department. There has also been an improvement in the food in the staff kitchen.
The Union in voicing its opinion of the proceedings claims that the ICA Act is "a hindrance to organization and a mill-stone around the necks of workers who are trying to improve their working conditions."
The Hotel has not as yet indicated whether or not it will abide by the decision of the Board.
In the meatcutters' case a 10% increase was gained by the workers. All of their demands were met.
Bill Burgess In Victoria
Bill Burgess, Secretary of the United Fishermen's Federal Union, Local 44, left Sunday night for Victoria, accompanied by John Stanton, labor attorney.
we had to work quite a while to relieve him.
"The Gospak took us to Kildonan where we got warm dry clothes on. Inen we went on the boat Ivana
Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The compensation question has been greatly accentuated by the loss of the two men on the "Liberty" last week.
Pacinaco Still Going Strong
It will be remembered that the boat "Pecinaco No. 1" and her crew, Captain C. Stannard; A. Stannard, mate; W. Ball, engineer, and J. Bell, cook-deckhand, set quite a record last year with the number of miles travelled. This year it appears they are doing just as well.
They report: "We had a -busy time this summer; as you know the fish were pretty scarce in the Lower Inlet area. We travelled a distance of 3,000 miles to get about 4,000 fish. We were over at Pacofi, Queen Charlotte Islands, for seven weeks and packed approximately 130,000 dogs and 10,000 humps."
They are at present around Namu tending the herring seniers.
Naval Visitors At Stuart Island
Stuart Island had the pleasure of welcoming several well known fishermen who are now with the Canadian Navy. Scotty Niesh, the well known fishermen, was in command of the vessel. Scotty, you will remember, was one of the early boosters of The Fisherman and the success of the paper was in no small way due to his efforts. Arriving at the store he at once spotted The Fisherman on the counter and for a few moments naval matters took a back seat.
Besides Com. Niesh there were several other well known fishermen on board. The boys all seem to like their new life and were, as you might say, in the pink. Before they left the Yuclataw Traders presented a feed of fresh fish for the boys, which was much appreciated by all.
VAN. FISH PRICES
Following wholesale fish prices obtained at Campbell Avenue Dock at Vancouver on Tuesday, Nov. 19: Ling Cod
Large and Baby .......7%c lb.
Medium ...................8c lb.
White Spring Salmon
Salt Water ..............................10c lb.
Pink Spring Salmon ........13c lb.
Red Spring Salmon
Salt Water ...............15c lb.
Soles ........................6c lb.
Grey Cod .................t%0 lb.
Cohoe ......................9c lb.
Island Herring .............2c lb.
SEATTLE FISH PRICES
Following are the prices at Seattle for Saturday, Nov. 16: Trolled Springs, lge........24c lb.
White .................10-12C lb.
Clams ........2.25 to 2.50 per sack
Dogfish Livers ...............S^c
Canvass your M.L.A. to see if he supports legislation to benefit fishermen!
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
The December 17th copy of The Fisherman will be a special Christmas issue. On this date we are giving fishermen and their friends an opportunity to send season's greetings at a nominal cost.
An ordinary one or two line greeting will cost only twenty-five cents and a column inch greeting will be seventy-five cents.
You are urged to take advantage of this means of sending your friends Christinas greetings.
All greetings must be in to the office of The Fisherman, 164 East Hastings St., Vancouver, by December 16 at the very latest. SNMMOdMMKMMHMlSlMlMWhMiaaAi