TheTiJherm&n
Representing the Organized Fishermen and Shoreworkers of British Columbia
VOL. XV    No. 2 (597)
VANCOUVER, B.C., JANUARY 13, 1953
Price: 5 Cents
COAL HARBOR
WHALING STATION CREW
SPECIAL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21
7:30 p.m.
Fishermen's Hall — 138 E. Cordova
• VERY IMPORTANT
• ALL MEN AFFECTED URGED TO ATTEND
No Chance For Reply
Halibut Commission Meets Jan. 22 In Seattle
A special meeting of the Vancouver halibut fleet has been called for this Thursday evening in the Fishermen's Hall at 138 East Cordova Street to elect delegates to the an' nual meeting of the International Halibut Fisheries Commission this month and to pre' pare recommendations to the Commission.
Rupert Mayor Picks Election Eve To 'Smear9 Labor Candidates
Despite efforts of the four labor candidates to inject a little life into Prince Rupert's civic elections which took place last December 10, the too usual signs of public lethargy were surrounding the campaign as it went into its final stages. Not that there were no issues of
prime importance to the voters in the Northern city. Of course, there were the usual problems of street repairs, sewage system, and water supply.
But in addition there was in this election the critical question of power, for in 1953 the city would again be faced with deciding whether or not the Northern B.C. Power Company would have its franchise renewed or whether the city should look into the possibility of bringing in a new supplier such as the B.C. Power Commission.
The four Labor-endorsed candidates, Darrow Gomez, R. L. Gardiner, James Prusky and Percy Downing, had generally taken the position that a full investigation of
Fisherman Dances Sun.
A young fisherman is a men*' ber of the famous eight person Ukrainian "Kobsar" dance group which will perform at an outstanding concert to be held Sunday evening, January 18, in the Hastings-Odeon Theatre.
He is John "Sonny" Plecas who lives at 3.377 Price Street in Vancouver. "Sonny," who is only 19 years old, has worked at salmon seining for the past two years, following the trade of his father. In 1-951, he fished on the seiner "B.C. Flyer" and last year, he fished on the "Cape Bay," serving both times as a deckhand.
John is a member of the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians, English Speaking Branch Number 328, and has spent several years with the noted "Kobsar" dance group. He is also, of course, a member of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union.
all possible suppliers should be carried out before any franohise should be granted.
Other candidates were of the opinion that a franchise should be granted as early as possible, evidently with the Northern B.C. Power Company.
Even with questions of this nature, little interest was at first shown by the public.
On the eve of the election, however, Mayor Harold Whalen made a statement to the press which was featured in front page headlines endorsing five candidates for the four aldermanic positions vacant. Those he gave his support to were Ray McLean, Mrs. W. Smith, Oar-row Gomez, H. Kraupner and W. Bremner. At the same time, evidently referring to those he had not endorsed and to other present members of the City Council, Whal-en delivered a slashing attack.
The Mayor said there was an element in the council and running for office that "all Canada was fighting" and every effort should be made to keep them out of office.
The Prince Rupert  Daily News
in an editorial endorsed the Mayor's views while at the same time giving considerable prominence to the story. The "News" went so far as to intimate that to vote for those candidates not endorsed by the Mayor would virtually amount to treason.
Strong resentment flared among trade unionists and liberal minded citizens and there is evidence of this feeling still growing regardless of the outcome of the election.
Four of the candidates endorsed by Whalen, D. Gomez, R. McLean. W. Smith and W. Bremner were elected. The defeated labor candidates were UFAWU Shoreworkers' Local Secretary Ray Gardiner, James Prusky, and Percy Downing.
Alderman Gomez, who topped the
Japanese Companies Seek N. Pacific Salmon Permits
The Japanese fishing industry is showing keen interest in participating in mothership-type salmon fishing in the North Pacific in 195?.
According to a recent press item (Kyodo, December 4), applications have already been filed with the Japanese Fisheries Agency for authorization to participate in such fishing during the next season to begin in May, 1953.
The applications to date total six motherships ranging from 1,000 to 4,700 gross tons, 195 catcher boats, and 35 research boats.
The Agency's plan for salmon fishing in 1953, as announced in the middle of November, provided for:
1. Not more than 85 catcher boats and 15 research vessels.
2. Conditions to qualify as a mothersbip and as a catcher boat.
3. An authorized fishing area extending approximately from At-ka Island in the Aleutians westward
to Kamchatka and the Northern Kuriles.
4. Fishing to be in accordance with provisions of the Tripartite Fisheries Agreement (Canada-Japan-United States).
The 1952 Japanese salmon expedition consisted of three motherships (one of 3,600 gross tons, and two of 500 gross tons), 50 catcher boats, two inspection vessels, and two research vessels. Operations extended from about May 10 to August 6.
Total catch was 2,100,000 salmon as compared to a catch target of l.sno.OOO fish. Most of the catch was salted find is earmarked for domestic consumption.
Most productive fishing grounds were in the western Pacific towards Kamchatka and the Northern Kuriles, reports a December 17 American Fmbassy dispatch from Tokyo.
poll, also ran with labor backing. Responsible sources in Prince Rupert have expressed the opinion that Whalen hesitated to attack Gomez, who is a member of the Prince Rupert Shoreworkers Local, because of his outstanding World War Sf record. He is holder of the D.S.M.
There is little doubt that Whal-en's attack, timed so that a public answer was impossible prior to the election, will result in renewed efforts by organized labor in the next election, with Whalen as one of the targets for removal.
The Commission has announced that it will meet on January 22 with the '^Conference Board" which consists of one official delegate from Union halibut fishermen, vessel owners, and companies in major halibut ports in the United States (Seattle), British Columbia, and Alaska.
There are reports that requests have been made to the Commission for an April opening for halibut this year in place of the June opening planned for this season. This point will likely come in for considerable discussion at the Union meeting this Thursday evening.
In a letter to the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union, the Commission points out that it expects "one delegate" from each organization, whose expenses are paid by the Commission. ("It is hoped," a letter from Director of Investigations H. A. Dunlop states, "that your delegate will hold his expenses to a reasonable minimum inasmuch as Commission funds are limited.")
Procedure for the meeting January 22 is outlined by Mr. Dunlop as follows:
A general meeting in the morning to review and discuss results of regulations and investigations followed in the afternoon by a separate meeting with the Conference Board.
The meetings will not be open to the public and attendance will be limited to official delegates only.
To overcome the past difficulty of delegates being unable to state the attitude of their organization toward recommendations of other organizations because the proposals were unexpected and had not been discussed, it is suggested that any new or unusual proposals contemplated by any group be submitted to all other ports ahead of the meeting.
Oppose Wharf Charge
Westview Fishermen Ask Formation Of Local Union
Commercial fishermen at Westview at a meeting on December 8 voted after considerable discussion to form a local in view of the growing importance of Westview as a centre of residence for commercial fishermen.
Pro tern officers elected were Alan Hargroves, president, and John Chambers, secretary. It was reported that considerable interest was shown in the activities of the Women's Auxiliaries and some information was requested on this point.
Organizer Hannah was despatched to Westview last month because of information to the effect that the Westview Village Commission planned to levy mooring charges against boats using floats in the Boat Basin.
A meeting of commercial fishermen December t, with Hannah present, agreed that there would be no request for watchman services and than any move to charge fishermen at government floats would be resisted.
The following day, a meeting of delegates from the Village Commissioners, the commercial fishermen, and the Small Boat Owners' Association (pleasure vessels) was held with Hannah present as a delegate from the UFAWU.
At the request of Mr. Burroughs, a member of the Village Commission, the Union organizer outlined bis experience at other points on the coast. Hannah reported that he had tied up at numerous government wharves and had never at any time paid any wharfage. He pointed out that the commercial fishermen were asking for no more than normal public services such as wharf lights and water, cost of which was negligible. Commercial fishermen spent a great deal of money in the locality and any small sum expended for normal service to the wharf would be of little consequence alongside of this large amount. The government, he added, would never have built a breakwater at Westview to shelter small boats used entirely for pleasure.
At first, there was some difference of opinion between the viewpoints of the commercial fishermen and the Small Boat Owners but eventually it was agreed that a request should be made for no wharfage charge at Westview, and normal light and water service be supplied.
In addition, it was proposed that the feasibility of getting coin electric meters to take care of anyone who wanted special electric service be looked into.
The representatives from the Village Commissioners said they would take back to the Village Council a recommendation along the lines just mentioned.
Those attending the meeting with the lessees of the harbor included W. Burroughs and John Fishleigh, Village Commissioners; Don Stewart, secretary of the Westview Small Boat Owners Association and Village Commissioner; Paddy Boylan, Westview SBOA, John Chambers and Alex L'Hirondelle, Westview Commercial fishermen and members! of the UFAWU, O. R. Hannah.
George Seymour Passes Quietly
George Seymour, a fisherman and a Union member for many years, passed away last month in Vancouver General Hospital after a long illness. His home was in Courtenay.
It will be remembered that only a few months ago, a collection was taken up to assist him in paying for medical attention which included several operations.
George fished salmon and herring and served at various times as mate, engineer, and cook. After an absence of some years, he reentered fishing in 1041, and his records show that he joined the Union immediately on returning to the industry, remaining a paid-up member ever since. He was a strong supporter of Union and progressive ideas.
George's request that there be no representative of the church at his funeral was honored by George Miller, who was in charge of funeral arrangements. Both Miller and Tom McKwen, editor of the Pacific Tribune, conducted the funeral service.
SPECIAL MEETING
Halibut Fishermen
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15
7:30 P.M.
Fishermen's Half — 138 E. Cordova
BUSINESS:      •   Election of Delegates.
•   Recommendations to International Fisheries Commission
Herring Bait Provision Handled As Emergency
The need for adequate supplies of frozen herring bait for the coming halibut season constitutes an emergency in view of the absence of a regular herring season, it was decided at a Union meeting of herring fishermen Friday evening in the Fishermen's Hall.
To meet this emergency the meet-
ing authorized the Herring policy committee to make all necessary arrangements to get bait operations under way.   The fishermen decided:
• A herring operation for the sole purpose of obtaining bait need not be governed by the same principles as those established for herring operations for other uses (reduction, canning and salting), Agreements based on a price at the dock may be signed for such operations;
• Share basis for such bait agreements to be dependent upon type of gear used (seine or trawl).
• Full cooperation with the Vessel Owners' Association in organization of such operations with Union crews provided;
• Invitation to be extended to the Fisheries Association members requiring bait to participate in quickly concluding agreements for said operation.
There was considerable discussion at the meeting in regard to possibilities of a trawl operation for herring for the balance of the winter season, with the siiggestion that some company might be interested in a reduction operation.
The meeting decided that a herring operation for reduction, canning or salting by either seine or trawl gear must be based upon a signed union agreement between the Union, as representative of the fishermen, and the company processing the fish. No permits would be granted by the Union for any op-
eration unless a signed agreement was concluded.
The labor price for herring approved by the meeting for any such agreement was $11.90 per ton for herring used in reduction and $16 per ton for herring used in canning. No price for salting was set by the meeting since the price of £22.25 had already been established and the equivalent embodied in signed Union agreements in October.
The labor prices above stated constitute payment to the men catching and transporting herring to the plant for processing, the price for reduction herring being derived on the basis of 11 shares from the final offer made to the fisheries association of 8.5 cents per ton for a fisherman's share for reduction herring.
Bella Coola Man In For Check Up
Axel Andersen, skipper on the "Melvin E" reports that John Hare-stad of Bella Coola has just arrived in Vancouver possibly to undergo an operation.
John, a well known old-time fish-' erman, was to enter hospital January 13. He is owner of the packer "J and J." It is hoped by his -many friends that his stay in hospital will be brief but pleasant and that he will soon be back home.
Axel Anderson, by the way, now has the "Melvin E" out beam, trawling. She was formerly packing for the Co-op.
UFAWU MEETINGS New Westminster Local
SUNDAY, JANUARY 18
2:30 p.m.
CANADIAN LEGION HALL, BEGBIE ST. ENTRANCE
Sunbury Local
SUNDAY, JANUARY 18
7:30 p.m. SUNBURY SCHOOL BUSINESS: FISHERY REGULATIONS
Vancouver Fishermen's Local
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22
7:30 p.m.
FISHERMEN'S HALL — 138 E. CORDOVA BUSINESS: Elect Delegates to Convention; Fishery Regulations
Vancouver Shoreworkers Annual Meeting
SUNDAY, JANUARY 25
10 a.m. FISHERMEN'S HALL 138 East Cordova