as Senseless?
Record Rivers Run Reflects '63 Strike
This season's generally improved salmon catch has been a heartening boost for the province's commercial fishermen, especially those who have shared in the record breaking production attained in the Rivers and Smith inlets fisheries which produced a canned sockeye pack valued at approximately $12 million.
1.3 Million Skeena Pinks
Small average size of pink salmon in the Skeena salmon fishery this season affected both the commercial catch and the test fishing escapement estimate, the Skeena Salmon Management Committee said last week in its final bulletin for 1967.
Based on catch and escapement estimates the 1968 pink run was thought to total some 600,000 fish, 242,000 of which were taken by commercial fishermen with another 358,000 escaping from the •fishing area.
However, current indications are that actual escapement to the area will approximate 1,000,-000 fish for a total run "in the order of 1,300,000," the Committee says.
Total commercial pink catch in a four day fishery during the week ending August 25 amounted to 64,584 fish, compared to 55,430 fish in the previous week and 60,670 during the week ending August 11 when two days' fishing was allowed.
The 1968 Skeena sockeye run, based on estimates of catch and escapement, is expected to total some 1,455,000 fish. Approximately 439,000 sockeye had been counted through the Babine River fence to August 19.
No one in the industry has missed the significance of the fact that a large proportion of sockeye—as much as 85 percent in Rivers Inlet—were five year fish, products of 1963, the year in which fishing industry management forced a strike on fishermen in an attempt to slash salmon prices by as much as 25 per cent.
"Senseless," wasteful," "unnecessary" were some of the words used by Fisheries Association spokesmen to describe that strike. Not only had it meant lost earnings, the Association asserted, but fishermen would feel its adverse effects in future years.
The fact is that the strike demonstrated   the determination
of fishermen not to accept massive price cuts and helped to stabilize price levels during succeeding seasons.
And despite the dire predictions of management, this year's excellent catches in some areas are recognized as being the result, combined with favorable environmental conditions, of the large numbers of 1963 spawners.
Since the Fisheries Association and others make a habit of lambasting the Union whenever a strike is called, it might not be expecting too much of them to at least note in passing that this year's run would not have attained its high level had it not been for the "senseless," "wasteful" and "unnecessary" strike of 1963.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
HECATE STRAIT
already have taken far more drastic action to protect their fishery resources than would be entailed by enclosing Queen Charlotte Sound and other areas."
Suzuki said the Union will attempt to raise the issue at a meeting with Davis in Vancouver this Friday called to discuss department proposals on licence limitation.
LICENCE LIMITATION
The Globe and Mail article also said that Davis "promises swift action to limit the number of licences available for salmon fishing and to stretch the salmon season to make it more profitable."
Suzuki commented the Union will be interested to learn whether the department has come up with a realistic approach to licence limitation. However, he added, it will be impossible to
"stretch the salmon season" unless more effective measures are taken to increase stocks as well.
In this field, he said, rehabili-t a t i o n and conservation programs must be accompanied by firm international action to prevent the taking of salmon by high seas fishing operations in both Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
Noting that Davis reportedly feels that "pollution is still causing difficulties," Suzuki said:
"This would appear to be a misplacing of emphasis. Pollution, in fact, is getting much worse, endangering health and recreational facilities as well as our valuable fishery resources.
"The federal fisheries department must face up to this fact and take effective action to combat the menace in cooperation with other departments and levels of government."
Your Savings Earn More in PLAN 24
Note our new address
Gulf & Fraser FISHERMEN'S Credit Union 801 East Hastings — New phone 254-6266
Intervention Hit By Labor Council
Vancouver Labor Council this week endorsed an executive recommendation "deploring the recent intervention by Soviet bloc troops in Czechoslovakia and urging their immediate withdrawal."
Council also called for a "complete withdrawal of all uninvited foreign troops from the soil of any sovereign nation."
Jack Phillips, Canadian Union of Public Employees 1004, said recent events in Czechoslovakia have caused world wide concern but added they would probably be easier to understand when all the facts are known.
Although the Soviet government had been condemned for its invasion of Finland, Phillips noted, leading historians have vindicated that action since.
Both Phillips and Bill Stewart, Marine Workers Union, charged that rearmament of West Ger many had a bearing on decisions reached by the Warsaw pact countries.
Council secretary C. P. (Paddy) Neale said the resolution was consistent with the position adopted by the Council in other cases where the rights of sovereign nations had been infringed upon.
In other business, Council backed a five point plan submitted by the Amalgamated Transit Union calling on city council to alleviate downtown traffic congestion by:
• Giving public transit vehicles right of way in curb lanes in downtown areas.
• Providing sufficient point police at main intersections.
• Instituting more effective traffic control enforcement.
• Requesting department stores and other retail outlets to sell bus tokens to public transit users.
• Urging B.C. Hydro to provide centre  door  loaders  at key
British Fishing Inquiry Sought
Grimsby Branch of the British Labor Party is calling on the Wilson government to establish a royal commission to inquire into the present condition and future prospects of the fishing industry.
The resolution, which is now before the Labor Party's annual conference at Blackpool, cites "the serious unemployment and possible collapse of the industry" as grounds for the proposed inquiry.
downtown areas to speed up movement of passengers and relieve some of the pressure on drivers.
FISH PRICES
VANCOUVER
WEEK ENDING AUGUST 31
TROLL SALMON
SPRINGS
Large red ........................ lb. 80-88c
Medium red __________________ lb. 60-65c
Small red..................... lb. 45-52c
Large white................ lb. 60-65c
Medium white______________ lb. 40-45c
Small white .................. lb. 30-40c
Coho _____________..........________ lb. 42-54c
Pink ____________.................... lb. 27-40c
Sockeye .......................... lb. 50-54c
Chums......_:........._______ lb. 25-32c
OTHER SPECIES Grey cod (dressed) lb. GVi-71/2C
Sole   ......................... lb. 81/2-9V2t
Ling cod (dressed) ._____    lb. 8-16c
Red and rock cod .......... lb. 4-8c
Shrimp (meat) ............... lb. $1.50
Crab (Shell) ......       doz. $3.00-$3.75
Crab (shell) .............. lb. 20-29c
Tuna ..................._________________ lb. 20c
Black cod ______________________ lb. 22-25c
Smelts.......................... lb. 18-20c
Minkfeed .. ______________________ lb. 2Vic
Crabs (meat)................ lb. $1.40
PRINCE RUPERT
WEEK ENDING AUGUST 31
TROLL SALMON
SPRINGS
Large red ............____________ lb. 80c
Medium red ..............._______ lb. 60c
Small red ________............._____ lb. 45c
Large white ______________________ lb. GOc
Medium white ................. lb. 45c
Small white ________________________ lb. 25c
Coho ___________________.......____________ lb. 47c
Pink ________............__________...... lb. 22c
OTHER SPECIES
Ling cod ______________________________ lb. 7c
Black cod ________________________ lb. 12-18c
Grey cod ____............______________ lb. 7c
Sole......_.........._____________________ lb. 5c
Red and rock cod............ lb. 2c
Minkfeed ______________________________ lb. 2c
SEATTLE
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 OTHER SPECIES
Rockfish (round) ........ lb. 51Ac
Sole, Dover (round) .... lb. 6%c Sole, Petrale (round) .... lb. 11c
Sole, Rock (round) ........ lb. 7c
Ling cod (round) ......... lb. SVic
Cod, true.................... lb. 5V2C
Perch, Pacific Ocean lb. 5V4c Sablefish, large (dressed) lb. 15c
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Contact These Salesmen
1. Roy Breitenbach,
Heriot Bay 285-3370
2. H. Fujimoto, Vancouver 434-7874
3. H. Hama, North Surrey 581-4060
4. G. Hayashi, Vancouver 255-9661
5. G. Hanazawa, Vancouver 321-6368
6. P. Hilton, Sointula 973-6701
7. M. Inouye, Richmond 273-4263
8. B. Kammerle,
Irvines Landing 883-2540
9. I. Nasu, Vancouver 874-4954
10. F. Sakai, Steveston 277-4265
11. T. Shikatani, Vancouver 321-8400
12. G. Suzuki, North Surrey 581-6654
13. A. Tamura, Vancouver 879-3370
14. J. Toyoda, Steveston 277-7274
15. H. Yodogawa, Steveston 277-8653
TRANS-PACIFIC TRADING CO.. LTD.
8
802 West 7th Ave., Vancouver
THE FISHERMAN — SEPTEMBER 6, 1968
879-8271