Page Four
THE FISHERMAN
March 26, 1940.
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THE
FISHERMAN
Published Every Other Tuesday by The Fisherman Publishing Society at 164 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C. Telephone TRinity 2965.
EDITOR    -    -    V. McCRAE
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A Shining Example
^[AylTH this issue we bring our readers the account of two * » important conventions of fishermen's unions. The outstanding achievements recorded in the growth and accomplishments of both the S.P.S.U. and the U.F.U. will be felt throughout the entire industry and will undoubtedly influence the unorganized fishermen and allied workers in a move for organization. The history-making step contemplated by the above two unions to unite their forces, which is nearing completion as this is being written, will be the outstanding event in the B.C. labor movement. Both executives are meeting today to draft a full explanation of the new set-up, and a referendum ballot to go to the membership.
The Fisherman extends its full support to this great move, which will be a shining example to other fishermen's groups that practical organizational unity is feasible and can be accomplished.
When it is realized that the merger of these two unions, which is now a certainty, will immediately create an organization of eight or nine hundred men, who are workers in the most important branches of the industry, the urge for unionization will be a clear indication that at least part of the fishermen's dream of one organization in the industry is about to be realized.
Congratulations, U.F.U. and S.P.S.U.!
A. Mclntyre Honored By HaidaTribe
There is a good story to be told about Mr. Mclntyre's tour over the Queen Charlotte Islands which happened at Skidgate mission with the Haida Indians. Here another cooperative study group has been started, making four for that community. At the close of the address given by Mr. Mcln-tyre, came various questions about credit unions. Their nature convinced Mr. Mclntyre that the Skidgate people were studying. The Haida people feel that in another month's time they will be applying for a charter for the Skidgate Credit Union.
About one hundred people attended the lecture. The 40 to 60 Club provided for the banquet. During this period all the old chiefs got together. Something of importance was about to happen. Soon after, Mr. Henery Green made the announcement. It was by the advice of the chiefs and the chief councillor that Mr. A. S-Mclntyre was to be made an honorary member of the Skidgate tribe, and he would be a brother in the Eagle clan. Chief Henery Moody gave the customary initiation, then Chief Niss Wh'ess told part of a story of a great Haida chief. STORY TOLD.
"A long time ago the good chief Goo - dungs-qlhew-watt (Stone Ribs) lived on a little island with his mother at the head of the Cumshewa Inlet. This young chief possessed great psychic and supernatural powers. One day he went into the house and told his mother: 'There is some one calling me, and it comes from near Cape G.Anex (Cape St. James). Mother, that weeping and wailing will never cease. I will go and help her.' His mother answered, 'Do not go, chief, or they might call you a Ska'mdal (a person of low cast).' However, the chief answered, 'I will go, mother, and help her.'
"He started out. There were many obstacles such as the elements and the supernatural that forever hindered his journey. It called on all his power to subdue them. Finally he reached the grief-stricken woman, the voice that had been calling him. She told him that a large number of killer-whales had been killing their people, that only a few people were now left in their village. Stone Ribs was soon acquainted with the situation. He then applied cunningly devised schemes to destroy the killer-whales. Finally they were all destroyed. Then from there on the little village had Its curse removed    The people
grew in numbers into a great and happy community."
Chief Niss Wh'ess went on to tell Mr. Mclntyre that the story he had told was not all a fable. He went on to say: "There is something in it that means a lot to us Haidas. There are many chapters to it. Now there is another chapter that you and history will tell by the name of that good chief who can end the curse of poverty here. We have been sending out a cry for some one from your white people to come here and help us; one who will teach us how to make a good living. We are not asking for pity or for charity. We ask only that we be included into the universal brotherhood of men, in that cooperative way of living that you have told us about. We are all glad and it is with great pleasure that we can call you a brother Haida. You are to bear the great name of 'Goodungs-q'hew-watt's' the good chief who has heard our cry for help. Your clan is the Eagles; your crest, eagle, whale, frog, beaver, shark, moon, duck, codfish, owl, dogfish, sculpin and dragon fly."
Mr. Mclntyre thanked Chief Moody and the Skidgate people for the honor that was bestowed upon him.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.
Skidgate Mission was encouraged by Rev. Thomas Crosby, D-D., in 1893 to bring all the Haida tribes together from around the southern half of the Queen Charlotte Islands. At Skidgate they would build a church and school and have a missionary. About 1905 the lost band joined the united tribe, coming from nine villages, each having their own chief. Today these chiefs exercise very little power in local affairs, although their social prestige is still respected. At Skidgate mission the people are directing the affairs of their community under the advanced Indian Act. The chief councillor is Solomon Wilson, with nine councillors. This body is elected each year by popular vote. The tribal chief for Skidgate is Edward Collison. This title is inherited. Henery Moody or chief Niss-Wh'ess is chief of Skeedans and is a first-rate orator and historian on Indian folkfore. Timothy Tate is the last chief and the only surviving member of the Cape St. James band. Chief Tate is over 80 years old. Chief Thomas Moody of Tannoo is everybody's friend. His main hobby is carving totem poles from black slate.
FISHERMAN
War Gives Impetus To Canned Herring Pack
The dollar value of British Columbia fish in 1938 amounted to $18,725,591, which is an increase of $2,570,152 when compared with $16,155,439 in 1937. These totals represent the value of fish as marketed, whether sold for consumption fresh, canned, cured or otherwise prepared.
War has again given a great impetus to the canning of herring in British Columbia, placing this item, for the present at least, among the major fishery products of the province. The 1939-1940 season is now closing with a record output of over 400,000 cases, worth approximately $1,500,000. This is more than six times the largest previous year's herring pack of 64,002 cases, made in 1919, and sixteen times the average output of recent years.
Up to March 6, when the season's canning operations were completed, preliminary compilation showed a total production of 401,600 cases of 48 lbs. each, which may be slightly increased when the final figures are available. For comparison, this is more than one-fourth (26%%) in volume of last year's canned salmon pack, which is by far the most important fishery item produced in British Columbia, although the unit value of canned herring is considerably less than that of the better grades of salmon.
The new development has served to keep a number of canneries occupied through a long season, particularly in the winter when they would otherwise be idle. It has brought a worth-while increase in annual revenue to the packers, and has given extra employment to several hundred cannery hands and many seine boats and their crews. Producers anticipate continued activiyt in this line for several years at least; and it seems quite certain that the canned herring pack will be main-ticipate continued activity in this duration of the war. INCREASED CATCHES.
The increase in canned pack does not appear to have placed any unusual burden on the British Columbia herring resources, as it was achieved in large measure through a diversion of the catch from the cheap "Oriental pack" of dry-salt herring and other less desirable uses, in response to a sudden increase in demand for food herring. The raw fish were received from a number of localities, but the greater part of the fish canned appear to have been taken in waters bordering the Gulf of Georgia, along the east side of Vancouver Island and adjacent mainland.
When the season opened last fall the herring fishing outlook did not seem especially bright. The west coast of Vancouver Island experienced exceptionally- bad weather, the fish did not appear in great numbers, and the season was considered more or less of a failure, although herring were canned at two plants in that section. Results were much better on the east side of the island, however, where the original quota permitted the taking of 25,000 tons and some 23,000 tons had been caught by the end of November. Because of the demand for canned herring, an increased quota was then requested and granted, with permission to take 10,000 tons additional for canning only. Very nearly the entire quota had been caught by the time the season closed February.
The Alert Bay area, near the north end of Vancouver Island on the east side, showed an unexpectedly large supply of herring; the Kwakshua Passage area -had a good season, with a catch equal to that of 1938-39, and Loredo Channel showed up quite well. The Prince Rupert district in the north started off poorly, but later produced good results, with some exceptionally large catches made late in the season; the total catch here being about even with the year before.
RESULT OF WAR.
The spectacular increase in canned herring production was evidently a direct result of the war in Europe. Herring canning in British Columbia on a real commercial scale practically dates from the World War, which brought the first notable demand for this product; and in recent
years there has been an average annual output of around 25,000 cases, which appeared to be all that could find a ready outlet in competition with pilchards, European herring and California sardines, etc.
Last summer, prior to the herring season, when the British Columbia canners were giving all their attention to salmon, there was no intimation that conditions would be different from those of other recent years. Soon after the outbreak of war in Europe, however, a definite demand arose for shipment to the United Kingdom. It soon became evident that fishing and packing operations would be largely suspended because of war conditions, not only in Great Britain but along the Norwegian coast, where production has normally been ample for British needs; and at the same time it appeared that consuming requirements would be greater than usual.
As the fishing season got under way there was a prompt and active response from the British Columbia canners; as the salmon season drew to a close, turned their lines over to herring, and intensified their operations to meet increasing demands as the year advanced. The market continued active into the new year, and the closing weeks of the season were marked by vigorous efforts to augment the output.
The Australian market also has been a factor. That country has normally taken some of the annual British Columbia canned herring output, but called for largely increased quantities as the shortage of Canadian Chum salmon became evident.
Demand in Australia was for various sizes of cans, but the trade in the United Kingdom wanted 1-lb. ovals especially. At first the Canadian packers were unable to supply this size in quantity, as not many canneries were equipped for ovals, the supply of cans ran short, and the bulk of the early pack was made in tails. It was not long, however, before production of oval cans caught up with requirements, and as the season advanced attention was concentrated mainly on this style.
(To be concluded in our next issue).
Comment On British Fish Trade
Interesting comment on conditions in the British canned fish trade are outlined in a recent letter received by a Vancouver exporter from a correspondent in England, who reports that owing to lack of demand for canned salmon from the retail trade and the fact that retailers, so far, have not generally put their prices up to the maximum allowed, "they prefer to wait a while and see if the public is going to pay these prices. If not, most buyers have more than enough for their requirements .»
"Bacon is rationed, but the retailer reports that his customers are not taking up their full rations, and some have given up buying bacon, because the price is too high. They are of the opinion that salmon may receive the same treatment from the consumer. Our opinion is that herrings have filled up the demand for cheap breakfast fish at present, although our guess is that the public will want a change shortly.
"The consumer can still pick and choose, and if he thinks the prjce too high he will turn to some alternative. . . . The whole world thinks we will buy anything, at any price, oh any terms; and
The U.S.A. is one of the greatest nations the world has ever known and for just one reason—and that reason is unity. Without unity and united action the several states would no doubt have been dominated by one or another influence to the extent that they would never have been strong enough to be a factor in world affairs. But with unity and united action they have developed into a great and powerful nation.
During the formative period in the U.S.A. that is from the time that the colonies obtained their independence from England till the Civil war, there were two schools of thought. There was one group who thought that each state should be independent and make all its own laws and that the federal union should only be maintained for defensive purposes. In other words, they believe in the doctrine of state rights.
The other group, or the Federalists, believed that the Federal Congress should be the principal instrument of government and that the several states should only have jurisdiction over purely local matters.
The controversy caused by this division of thought developed the greatest group of orators that ever lived in any country at any one time. Such men as Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Daniel Webster, Stephen A Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, and others.
Contrary to common belief, the issue at stake in the Civil war, 1861 to 1865, was not slavery but the question of State rights.
The Southern States held that they or any one of them, could cecede from the Union at will. And there was a strong tendency in the north to let them cecede peaceably. No doubt there would not have been any war if the people in Charleston, South Carolina, hadn't got impatient and fired on Fort Sumpter. But after the war started it developed into one of the most stubbornly-contested wars ever waged.
At the end there was no doubt that unity, right or wrong, would prevail.
The fishermen in B.C. need unity as much as any people ever did and while we may not have any high class orators and statesmen to argue and make speeches, we all know that if we are ever to become powerful enough to get all we are entitled to out of life we must unite and remain united.
/ * /
No matter how rotten a man is to his help, if he makes enough money and uses some of it to endow colleges and libraries and churches, the common herd will acclaim him a great man and venerate him.
Look at any public library in North America and you think of Carnegie.
But does a library ever start you to thinking about the rotten conditions that prevailed in the steel mills in the United States during the time Carnegie was getting the money he used to endow those libraries?
/ / 1
Man as an institution is a funny piece of work.
We spent three or four thousand years trying to convince ourselves that women should have equal political rights with men. All this time we taught our boys to respect women more than men and most of us did.  But why should we respect women more than men?
Why should we respect anyone more than they, by their actions are able to inspire respect.
Women have done some of the noblest things that have ever been done and some of the most despicable things. So have men.
Why respect one more than the other?
1 1 1
When I went to school I learned all about the conquests of Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar and all the other great soldiers, Hannible and Ghengis Kan and the rest. But I never heard about the weavers in Rochdale, England, forming a co-operative store, nor any industrial or social resolution except the ones that were brought about by war.
No wonder the people always think of improvements in our economic conditions in terms of blood and strife.
I've been trying to figure out for over a year whether I'm insulted or not.
Last March another guy and I were aboard a boat in False Creek and, of course, we talked about this and that. The next day I was down to see the guy again. (I don't mention names in this column but the boat has S.O.S. on it).
The guy said, "You know, you said something yesterday I wanted to argue with you about, but I forgot what it was."
I said, "Maybe you took exception when I said a Finn wasn't a white man"
He answered, "No, I agreed with you on that. I wouldn't want to be known as a white man."
some of our own speculators are thinking the same, but believe us, we are not there yet."
Referring to a New York broker offering Sockeye halves, 4 doz., at 47/6 a case; Coho talis at 48/6; Pink talis at 37/6 and Red tails at 60/—, c.i.f., war risk extra, etc., he adds: "We haven't wasted much time with him, but it does show how many people have visions of an easy fortune. The joke is that the regular trader cannot at present find much demand at a lot less money, to say nothing about the above prices being illegal. . . . All sorts of people from all sorts of trades are offering us all sorts of goods. We
have had at least 15 Portuguese sardine shippers offer us their agency, and for the most part none of them are worth troubling about.
"Everyone in the trade received a warning from the Ministry of Food a few days ago, reminding us of the clause in the order which must be observed, which reads as follows: 'No person shall sell or agree to sell or offer or expose for sale, or buy any canned salmon at any price exceeding the 'appropriate price' "—the "appropriate price" being the fixed wholesale price fixed by the government.
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