Page Four
THE FISHERMAN
December 20, 1938
The Fisherman
Proper Care of Gillnets
EDITORIALS
The FISHERMAN
official organ SALMON PURSE SEINERS' FEDERAL UNION, LOCAL 141
and
PACIFIC COAST FISHERMEN'S UNION (B.C. Section) •
Published Every Other Tuesday at 164 EAST HASTINGS STREET VANCOUVER, B.C. Trinity 2965 •
Assistant Editor - GEO. DRAYTON Editor - - - JOHN GAVIN •
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History In The Making
At the end of the year it is the custom in all lands to take stock and prepare for the coming season. This custom is certainly being followed out by fishermen of British Columbia and on the Pacific Coast.
Trollers' Co-operatives have met in annual gathering and in each instance their meetings marked distinct successes. The PCFU had their annual convention in Vancouver where they laid plans for future activity. Salmon Purse Seiners will shortly meet and will record immense gains.
At the moment this is being printed there is an historic gathering taking place in San Francisco that will write a page in the history of the Pacific Coast fishing industry that will probably top all other gatherings held so far. Every effort is being made to weld together over twenty thousand fishermen and allied workers in order to gain a better livelihood for these thousands of toilers and their families.
Petty differences are rapidly being overcome. Organizational problems are being tackled with a view to ironing them out in the interests of the vast majority. This is as it should be.
The problem facing British Columbia organized fishermen now is to reach every fisherman in every cove and cranny and convince them of the need for united organization. Every means must be adopted to do this. Prejudices and objections must be dealt with to bring the BC fishermen into the great stream of unity. The trend is towards unity. Let us all pull together for this objective in 1939.
Co-ops Successful
The financial report of two successful trollers' co-ops which appear this week are distinctly gratifying. They demonstrate that fishermen can and do operate businesses successfully. The recent move by one of the co-ops, the North Island Trollers, to amalgamate with the Prince Rupert Co-op shows that they are keenly aware of the necessity for unification in our industry. We hope that next year we shall see a similar movement toward the Kyuquot Trollers.
United as one selling agency they would be in a splendid position to follow up the policy already initiated by the P. R. Co-op. of eliminating unnecessary middlemen.
Common sense tells us that they must crawl before they may walk,
THERE are two most important points to be observed in the care of linen nets, according to fishermen who have made careful study of their performance under different conditions: First, thorough cleansing after each fishing operation; second, proper drying and storage.
A 'bluestone solution is also recommended for cleansing linen nets. In using such solution, particular care should be taken to see that all crystals are thoroughly dissolved, and that none of them are permitted to come in contact with the net, as bluestone in high concentration is quite corrosive and will quickly injure the fibre.
The bluestone tank or vat should be free from nail or bolt heads, or any other metal where it could be touched by the net while in the solution, since bluestone solution, even when weak, quickly eats into metal, thereby generating chemicals which are destructive to the fibre.
The bluestone solution should not be too strong, and it should not carry an excess of sulphuric acid. Commercial bluestone commonly contains some free acid which, even though greatly diluted, is very injurious to vegetable fibres. To be safe this should be neutralized by adding about one-half of one per cent of commercial ammonia, whica will combine with it to make a harmless salt.
When taken from the bluestone solution, nets should be immediately rinsed in clean water before being permitted to dry.
•
Direct sunshine will not damage a wet net, but will rot a dry one. Nets should therefore be dried in the shade; otherwise the strength of the fibre win soon be impaired, if not actually destroyed.
Nets stored, even for short periods, should be loosely hung under a dry, well ventilated shelter. A foul, wet net, piled up under a tight cover, may be very quickly ruined by bacteria and
but for the Co-ops to remain as mere fish-packing agencies would be to remain crawling. However, the co-operatives are not going to be static. The two northern associations are distinctly progressive. We wish them and the Kyuquot Trollers every success.
mildew, especially in warm weather.
Deterioration in tensile strength of either linen or cotton nets subjected to rain and sunshine is most rapid after summer solstice (June 21), when tnu sun's heat rays are most direct and potent. Netting subjected to intermitting wetting is materially conserved by drying out of contact with sunshine. •
The useful life of linen nets is likely to be shortened if they are put into service without some preliminary seasoning. The method most used by fishermen with a minimum of equipment is as follows:
For each 30 pounds of netting, take 35 gallons of water, 5 pounds of good quality of dry cuteh and one-eighth pound of bluesotne. Heat the water to boil; stir well, then put in the netting and continue to boil for 2 or 3 hours. Then remove the net and dry thorougu-ly. If a deeper color is desired, add a few pounds of cutch and repeat the boiling process for another hour, then dry. . j
Cutch is an extract from one of several oriental woods, but similar extracts are made from hemlock and can be used in like manner.
CONGRATULATIONS
All the Union Boys, especially the Admiral, wish good luck to Sylvia Hilton on the occasion of her marriage to Tom.
British Columbia Legislature, a,t its recent session, amended the Workmen's Compensation Act to increase the proportion of wages to be paid in compensation to workers from 66% percent to 66% percent.
Mrs. A. W. Neill, wife of the member for Comox-Alberni in the Federal House, died on Dec. 6. She is survived by her husband and one daughter. In the name of many hundreds of fishermen, "The Fisherman" extends deep sympathy to Mr. Neill in the loss of his life-long mate.
Permission to use anchovies for reduction purposes has been extended to December 31st by the Dept. or Fisheries.
Customer: I want to get two bits worth of paper.
Clerk: Yes, sir. News, writing, toilet, sand or blotting?
FEATURES
Heil Hitler I
With Apologies to Amy Freeman
HEIL HITLER! If you want to feel patrician Where we hate the damne- Galician And the men are slightly Grecian— HEIL HITLER!
Now the blood within you surges, It's so grand to be alive When we have our daily purges Every afternoon at five; If you feel that you are willing To spend half your life in drilling And the rest of it in killing— HEIL HITLER!
Now there'j always Jews to shoot at And if nothing else—to hoot at, And for someone to salute at— HEIL HITLER!
There can be no greater glory Than a life that's good and gory And I'm sure you won't be sorry— HEIL HITLER!
Now you'll never lack amusement, You'll be laughing all the while. 'Cause the fuehrer's got a moustache That's got Chaplin beat a mile.
Oh, it's great to be a Nazi, Everything is hotsy-totsy If, of course, you're potsy— HEIL HITLER!
'Neath the Nazi flag a flutter You'll get every wish you utter, But you mustn't ask for butter— HEIL HITLER!
With each uniform a sabre
You can cut a dandy caper
If you like clothes made of paper—
HEIL HITLER!
Now the country's really healthy You'll be feeling like a champ After spending your vacation In a concentration camp. If you think you're Omar Khayam Or the future King of Siam, If you're just as nuts as I am— HEIL HITLER!
The ship was sinking. The captain called the frightened passengers on deck.
"Is there anyone among you who can pray?" he asked.
"I can," said the Reverend Mr. Simpson, stepping forward.
"Then you'd better get going," ordered the captain. "We're one lifebelt short."
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