Justice must be done
More on broadcast frequencies
Editor, The Fisherman:
Recently there has been some concern expressed over the future of marine broadcast service on the frequency 1630 kH-z. In response to this concern, I have made inquiries in this matter to my colleague, the Hon. Otto Lang, minister of transport.
I have now received his reply, which reads, in part:
There is no immediate plan to move the broadcasts from 1630 kHz to 2054 kHz. The intention in bringing the proposed future change to the attention of West coast users at this time is simply to alert them as early as possible to a step which, in their interest, must eventually be taken.
The problems associated with the continued future use of 1630 kHz are basically technical in nature.
First there is the difficulty, long recognized, of tuning an antenna to transmit efficiently over a wide range of marine radiotelephone frequencies, from the very low range at 1630 kHz to those required at much higher values.
Invariably in this situation efficiency must be compromised at either the low or the higher frequency range limits. For this reason, manufacturers are reluctant to produce marine radiotelephone equipment which operates below 2000 kHz.
The direct effect of this problem in the U.S., for example, has been a cessation of ship/-shore communications in the 1605-2000 kHz frequency range. Our Coast Guard radio stations do not operate below 2000 kHz anywhere in Canada except on the West coast.
Again, Canada is committed, by international agreement affecting all nations of the world involved in marine radio communications, to convert marine radiotelephone communications frequencies to single sideband (SSB) from the double sideband (DSB) mode of operation.
This change to SSB requires that on working frequencies in the range including 1630 kHz only the SSB modes of emission A3A and A3J will be permitted after January 1, 1982.
In practice, this will mean that after January 1, 1982 the SSB broadcast transmissions from our Coast Guard radio stations will, regardless of frequency, be unintelligible on the AM broadcast receivers now being used.
In this connection, SSB receivers suitable for marine broadcast reception are now commercially available in the $200 to $400 price range.
The eventual change in operation to 2054 kHz has been agreed to by the Western Canada Telecommunications Council, which
represents a wide range of West coast users from the voluntarily fitter pleasure boater to the fishing and towing vessels com-pulsorily fitted with radio communications equipment.
As apparently planned, the marine broadcasts on 1630 kHz will continue to be available simultaneously with those on 2054 kHz until January 1, 1982, after which date the service on 1630 kHz will be phased out.
The VHF system is a very attractive alternative to SSB and users whose areas of work are inshore are strongly encouraged to consider it.
Present planning calls for VHF coverage of the West coast by 1980. A full range of VHF marine communications services, including continuous broadcasts of weather and dangers of navigation information on a frequency set aside exclusively for the purpose, will be available from all Coast Guard radio stations through use of remotely controlled peripheral facilities.
Inexpensive VHF receivers (in the $90 price range) are commer-
cially available and there is no cause for concern for the legality of VHF marine broadcast reception at a shore location.
The VHF broadcasts from our Coast Guard radio stations are in the public domain, just as are those made on 1630 kHz, and are available without restriction to all interested listeners.
To sum up, moving the marine broadcasts from 1630 kHz to 2054 kHz is an essential step in the phased plan to overcome the technical difficulties presented by operating on 1630 kHz.
Recognition has been given to the eventual (after January 1, 1982) ineffectiveness of an AM receiver to copy SSB transmissions from the Coast Guard radio stations. Discontinuance of the broadcast service on 1630 kHz will not come about before January 1, 1982.
I trust this information is of some assistance to your readers.
IONA CAMPAGNOLO Minister of State Fitness and Amateur Sport Ottawa, Ont.
Editor, The Fisherman:
The trade union movement has many members of Yugoslav origin and descent in its ranks and they have every reason to be disturbed by the recent murder of Dr. Vladimir Sovilj in Vancouver. If, as the circumstances would seem to indicate, his
Researcher got real education
Editor, The Fisherman:
I would like to use the medium of your paper to express my thanks to all the UFAWU members who have helped me in my research of their union's activities. I have completed nearly all of the process of data collection and what remains is the task of sorting out all this information, analyzing it, and writing up the results for my master's thesis in sociology at UBC.
During my summer's research, I met many fine people and received help and information from a wide variety of sources.
It was also a tremendously enlightening experience. It soon became clear to me that the workers in the fishing industry have always been in a fairly vulnerable position, but with the nature of the changes that are currently taking place in the industry, and the attacks being made upon the union, the jobs and security of fishing industry workers are being even more greatly threatened.
I hope that all the cooperation I received will result in my report's having some practical worth for the union, and also that it may perhaps enable those outside the union to gain some appreciation of its operation and the many important concerns to which it addresses itself.
Good luck and good seasons!
BRIAN HAYWARD Vancouver, B.C.
Editor, The Fisherman:
I have been asked by the Emes family to explain that the Miss Skeena owned by UFAWU member Gordon Emes was not the boat destroyed by fire at North Pacific Cannery docks, as reported in The Fisherman's last issue.
The Miss Skeena lost by fire was an old boat belonging to Canadian Fishing Company. And it was not operated by Charles Emes as reported.
PASCAL McGINNIS UFAWU Northern Fishermen's Organizer Prince Rupert, B.C.
murder is linked to his earnest endeavors to improve relations between Yugoslavia, as the land of his birth, and Canada, as the country of his adoption, then the murder must be of concern to all progressive Canadians.
We have sent a letter to the Vancouver Police Commission and the attorney general of B.C. appealing to them to pursue police investigations until the murderer is found and brought to justice.
We ask you to support our appeal to the authorities. Help us to keep the peace in the Canadian-Yugoslav community.
J. ORESKOVICH President, Lower Mainland Yugloslav Pensions' Club Vancouver, B.C.
'Sooke Post' crew thanked
Editor, The Fisherman:
On September 26, while fishing in Jedway, Queen Charlotte Islands, I was stricken with a perforated ulcer. I was in no shape even to finish picking my net up and it was only by the assistance of friends that I was able to get aboard the fisheries patrol vessel, Sooke Post.
I want to thank the crew of the Sooke Post and in particular the first aid attendant, Mark Walsh. I also wish to thank the friends who helped me from the time I was stricken until I was on my way by helicopter to the hospital.
Without their help, the outcome of my story could have been much different, and I am grateful.
I would also like to put in a word of thanks to B.C. Packers' management in Port Edward and my many friends in Prince Rupert and Vancouver for their interest and sympathy during my recovery.
NASH SAKAMOTO Vancouver, B.C. PE232
Editor's note
• Apart from the difficulty of distinguishing between two boats of the same name, confusion arose from the fact that the Miss Skeena destroyed by fire was listed to Charles Emes in UFAWU small boat clearances.
In fact, Charles Emes did fish her at the start of the main halibut season in May. But he subsequently left her to fish salmon on the Winnie S without this information being cross-entered in the clearance record, which consequently showed him as still operating the boat.
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— OCTOBER 24, 1977