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Representing The Organized Fishermen Of British Columbia
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Christmas Lay up Undecided
Discussions are still in progress between the UFFU and Herring Operators for a mutual agreement on the opening date and duration of the annual Christmas layup of the herring fleet. It is expected that a final decision will be reached this weekend whilst the east coast fleet is in town and will be communicated to all boats on the west coast by phone.
The union proposed that all herring fishing on both coasts be closed from midnight, Wednesday, December 20, to midnight, January 3. The viewpoint of the operators is that east coast fishing should not stop until midnight of December 21, a day later than west coast operations and that all boats should leave for recommencement of herring fishing on January 2.
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Vol. VI. No. 38.
(277)
VANCOUVER, B.C., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1944
Bnadrnj^^pniiMMM* Price: 5 Cents
Fishing Industry Meets
Stricter Conservation Measures Necessary
Something new in the way of fishing industry gatherings was registered last week in Vancouver during a one-day meeting held in the Hotel Georgia, Friday, under the chairmanship of George Miller, acting secretary of the United Fishermen's Union. There were gathered together representatives of labor, managment, government fishery departments, vessel owners and scientific research workers from both sides of the international boundary. ; "
Herring Quota Given Boost
Topics under discussion ranged from conservation of ground fish and dogfish, exchange of the results of scientific research, existing habor facilities proovided for fishermen of the other country by Canada and the U.S. and the issues involved in connection with any changes of present arrangements, and the disposal of dogfish and shark carcasses.
Discussions, whilst highly informative, were informal in the sense that naturally no binding decisions could be made by such a meeting. Nevertheless as a result of the frank exchange of views a number of recommendations were agreed upon which will be forwarded to the governments of Canada and the U.S.
Amongst such recommendations passed by the meeting were the following:
1. That no narrow head ground fish be landed less than 11% inches in length;
2. That the method of measuring mesh of nets be standardized for both countries and that the stanftafu mettiou Y>e from
to inside, excluding knots;
3. That the use of ticklers on trawls be opposed;
4. That only one grade, the best, be allowed for bottom fish;
5. The government inspection of fish be recommended;
6. That both governments be petitioned to draw up jointly a program for conservation and propagation of all varieties of fish on the banks and that due consideration be given in the light of such a program to revision of existing reciprocal harbor rights and privileges.
Amongst those in attendance at the conference were: J. A. Motherwell and J. F. Tait of the federal department of fisheries; from the State of Washington fisheries department, Fred J. Foster and Fred Cleaver, biologist, who presented to the gathering an informative review of data gathered to date on bottom fish, particularly soles; Dr. J. L. Hart and Dr. R. E. Foerster of the Pacific Biological Station at Nanaimo. Egill Petersen, secretary, and Cliff Nordland, president of the Otter Trawlers Union, Local 53, and Martin Hege-berg, secretary-treasurer, IFAWA, represented U.S. union fishermen.
George Miller headed the UFFU delegation that included Homer Stevens, Frank Radoslovich of the trawler "Splendour," Mark Galway and Nick Kopatic, George Anderson of the Deep Sea Fishermen, Prince Rupert and Guy Williams and Alfred Adams of the Native Brotherhood were in attendance. Amongst Vancouver otter trawlers present were Capt. Boyd Shannon and H. A. Chris-tenson represented Fishing Vessel owners Association.
Management representatives included R.
A ten thousand ton increase in the herring quota for the lower east coast area was announced last week by Chief Supervisor of Fisheries Major J. A. Motherwell. The quota from this area is now 40,000 tons for the season.
Last year a similar increase was made in the same area and this was later extended to 50,000 tons. The season was closed, however, before the full amount had been caught.
Catch reported from the lower east coast area up to and including November 25, was 24,048 green tons and the total from all areas had reached the figure of 32.47Q green tons. Broken down into areas, this includes 754 tons from district 2 (central), 4,631 from Quathiaski, 2,883 tons from the upper east coast, and 153 tons from the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Pack at November 25 was 610,-166 cases, consisting oi 4fc1,1«?> plain and 147,458 tomato sauce. Only 125 tons were used fresh and 460 tons of herring used for bait.
Herring meal produced was 620 tons and oil 113,011 gallons. The amount of herring offal meal to the end of the week totalled 1,-045 tons, and offal oil production came to 183,034 gallons.
Sunken Net Ban Removal Sought For West Coast
DON'T GIVE TH€M ANY SLACK-WE HAVEN'T LANDED THEM ALL YET/
To Cost $3,350,000
Natives Pledge King Support
Pledging "full support" to the government in the present conscription crisis, which is being used by Tory politicians as a political football in the hope of forcing a federal election, the Native Brotherhood last week forwarded a message to Prime Minister Mackenzie King backing measures already taken to ensure adequate overseas reinforcements.
Signed by President Alfred Adams, the pledge reads:
"Please convey to your cabinet and all members of Parliament that we the Native Brotherhood of British Columbia, representing ital in this present critical period, the Brotherhood declares.
"We, as the real Canadians, are not proud of the adverse publicity emanating from the Ottawa capital in this present critical period.
"We hope and pray that all members of Parliament will stop playing their respective brands of party politics and get down to the important work of protecting our E. Walker and C. R. I country as a whole by seeing that
Three Postwar Projects Planned For B.C. Coast
Three important postwar projects for British Columbia involving construction of breakwaters and a channel at a total cost of $3,350,000 now und«r corasiA "ition by the Department of Public Works have been submitted to the United Fishermen's Federal Union by Major J. A. Motherwell for an opinion on the necessity of carrying out the proposed works.
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The breakwaters suggested will cost a total of $1,550,000 and are to be situated at Wiah Point and at Zayas Island in the Skeena River district.
At Wiah Point the project would involve construction of a system of floats, breakwaters and dredging an area to be protected by them at an estimated cost of $1,-300,000, for the purpose of protecting fishing vessels operating
¥Jses, B.C. Packets-, B. E. Bailey and R. L. Jack, Canadian Fish, L. E. Moir, Western Fish and M. Bornstein of Bellingham.
DATE SET FOR CANNERY APPEAL
December 13 was announced as the date the appeal of the operators in the case of net, cannery and reduction workers will come before the National War Labor Board. This information was contained in a wire received by the Fish Cannery, Reduction Plant and Allied Workers Union last week.
Commenting on the time taken to settle shore workers' negotia-tions this year, Alex Gordon, general secretary of Local 89, stated "British Columbia shore workers have provided a wonderful example to all Canadians in the way they have patiently waited for a final disposition of their case since March.
"This reasonable attitude is further emphasized when you consider that the ruling handed down by the B.C. Regional Board was a compromise decision and could in no way be considered as acceding to the main request of the Union for an 8-hour day."
everything is done to safeguard the interests of all Indian and other Canadian boys and girls in the Canadian armed forces, who are, after all, the real Canadian government in action. "They are your sacred trust."
Amendments
Locals of the UFFU are urged to take immediate action on the amendments to the fisheries regulations proposed by the department of fisheries through Major J. A. Motherwell.
Locals must discuss these questions, at special meetings if necessary, and forward their opinions, together with any other proposals, to headquarters without delay so that it will be possible to submit a general report to the department before December 31.
CFU Opens Fight For Agreements
LUNENBURG, N.S.—Members of the Canadian Fishermen's Union are facing stiff opposition from east coast fishing companies over collective bargaining agreements in the industry, principal demand raised by delegates to the recent union convention.
Letters have been sent to the various companies asking for a meeting on behalf of the fishermen employed on the vessels operating out of Lunenburg and Lockeport.
Those companies that have answered have given no sign of understanding the need for collective bargaining to strengthen the fishing industry.
W. C. Smith and Company declared their company operated no vessels, and advised the union to address the managing owners (un-named).
This company is evidently try-to make the union deal with the individual masters. This would only lead to confusion and disharmony, and the union has no intention of adopting such a ridiculous policy.
from the northern coast of British Columbia.
The rock and cement breakwater at Zayas Island would cost in the neighborhood of $250,000.
It is pointed out in the district engineer's report that Zayas Island is situated roughly at the intersection of the centre lines of Dixon entrance and Hecate Strait, some ten miles west of Dundas Island.
About midway up the easterly side of the Island a long reef starts at the southern end of a long bay and runs parallel to the shore. The crest of this reef is at about mid-tide level. At its northern end there is a .gap, some 75 to 100 feet wide through the reef leading into the large basin between the reef and the shore, the report continues.
Requests were made some years ago by the various Fishermen's organizations that a breakwater be constructed along the top of this reef. An excellent harbor for fishing craft would thus be provided in close proximity to good fishing grounds.
It was pointed out then that although there is a good, natural harbor at the north end of Dundas Island. This is a good two hours Tun ior a iast fish 'boat operating near the Zayas Island anchorage, and the intervening waters are exposed to the full force of the prevailing storms.
The channel that it is intended to dredge is located between Graham Island and Moresby Island, also in northern British Columbia, known as Skidegate channel.
Purpose of the work is to allow fishing boats to pass through the channel at all stages of the tide to make full use of fishing possibilities on the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands. Cost is about $1,800,000.
Skidegate fishermen are being asked to state their attitude on the merits of this expenditure to help guide the department in its final decision.
Open Season May 1, Raise Halibut Quota, Commission Asked
A number of recommendations endorsed jointly by unions and vessel owners in Vancouver, Seattle, Prince Rupert, and Petersburg were presented to the International Halibut Fisheries Commission meeting in Seattle last Tuesday. Delegates from British Columbia were Acting Secretary George Miller and Sig Hansen of the UFFU, Jimmy Fiddler of the Vessel Owners' Association, and George Anderson of the Prince Rupert Deepsea Fishermen's Union.
Among the most important proposals advanced by representatives of the unions and vessel owners was a request that the Commission give consideration to opening the season on May 1 instead of the present April 16 date.
An increase of two million tons in the current halibut quotas for areas two and three was also proposed, subject to a further recommendation that "the amount of incidentally caught halibut taken from area two after the regular season closes be raised from a ratio of one to seven to a ratio of one to four (25 percent) and that this increase in catch be deducted from the increase proposed for the regular area two quota." A similar policy was put forward last year by delegates but was not acted upon by the commission.
Continued patrolling of the nursery grounds was advocated, regardless of season and it was also urged ,that "all nursery grounds closed to halibut fishing be closed to otter trawling and other types of fishing which are destructive to halibut stocks."
The policy of taking action to exterminate sea lions was referred to the commission with the suggestion that the proper government agencies be contacted and asked to carry out this proposal.
Other points brought forward included a recommendation that no vessel bound for area two be given a clearance prior to three days before the first legal day of fishing.
In addition, delegates requested that all vessels landing halibut, regardless of size or catch, be licensed and that the commission announce new regulations not later than January 15 each year.
I The commission was asked to hold the line on its policy of prohibiting the use of nets of any kind for catching halibut.
Withdrawal of the fishery regulation amendment which which will in a few days close sunken net fishing for grayfish in the west coast waters of Vancouver Island is requested in a petition carrying the signatures of over 200 fishermen, and turned in to UFFU headquarters for submission to the federal fisheries department.
An amendment passed by the department some months ago Iot-bids the use of sunken nets in Gulf and West Coast waters after December 15, allowing them to be used in northern waters only.
The petition points out that fishermen are operating with sunken nets three miles off shore and are. therefore competing with American vessels using otter or beam trawls, considered ' even more destructive than sunken nets.
"Canadian fishermen," it is stated, "have invested considerable money in boats and gear suitable for this type of fishing and are therefore inflicted with a hardship not shared by the Americans."
It is made clear that the fishermen stand behind a policy of conservation but cannot see how this move, discriminatory as it is, would have any concrete effect in assisting to protect fish on the west coast.
Vancouver Local Backs Public Ownership of BCE
A resolution commending Provincial Premier John Hart for his policy of attempting to develop B.C. power resources on the basis of public ownership and urging the government "to bring in legislation at the coming session to take over the resources of the BCER, leaving the matter of compensation to be adjusted later after impartial investigation through arbitration or other means," was passed at the regular meeting of the Vancouver Local last Friday. It will be submitted to the Trades and Labor Council for approval tonight.
Pointing out in its preamble that electric power is the life-blood of modern industry and agriculture, the resolution declares that its cost and availability can play an important part in deciding the location of new factories.
"Cheap power in plentiful supply is required to permit the fullest industrial development to provide postwar jobs in British Columbia," it is stated. "Examples in other provinces and countries prove that public ownership of power resources has provided cheaper electricity and permitted more extensive development in the public interest."
The resolution exposes failure on the part of the BCER to provide adequate service and low rates so that now a situation has arisen where electricity must be imported from the United States to meet provincial needs.
Fishermen's DANCE
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8
Dance 9-2
FORT LANGLEY
MUSIC by TEMPO TOPS ORCHESTRA
ADMISSION 75c Refreshments Included
(Boats Leave Albion 8:30 p.m.) SPONSORED BY ALBION LOCAL, U. F. F. U.
DANCE and SOCIAL
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9
Dancing 9-12
FISHERMEN'S HALL
Proceeds for Children's Christmas Party Admission: 50 Cents SPONSORED BY UFFU AND SHORE WORKERS' UNION
The resolution concludes by pointing out that it is necessary that these resources be publicly ownM and controlled in order to ensure adequate protection of British Columbia's fisheries.
A membership committee of four was set up to discover ways and means of increasing attendance at union meetings. Those
elected were Marion Ruljanovieh,
Jack Penny, E. Kirpin, and Angus Neish.
The meeting approved the general executive board's appointment of Mark Galway as delegate to the Fraser River Council from the Vancouver Local and asked that gillnetters attend the next meeting in order that some of them may also act as delegates.
Al Woie was chosen to act on the Sick Benefit Committee in place of Bill Purvis, who has resigned.
Members heard reports from Nick Kopatic on his trip to the
east coast with Organizer Gus Cogswell. Cogswell also spoke, urging union members to take full advantage of the present opportunities for organizing and bring the membership to the hundred percent mark.
The meeting recommended to the executive board that, as a means of assisting the organizer, the practice of having sponsors for new members be investigated with a view to eliminating this procedure.
