Page Four
THE FISHERMAN
June 13, 1944
Union Wins Top Cannery Wage Scales
Highest wage rates existing in the fish canning industry have been established by Local 64 of the UCAPAWA at the Van Camp Sea Food Co. in San Diego, California.
Hourly rates now in effect are: Retort operator, $1.25; maintenance men, $1.25 and tuna butcher, $1.40. Fishroom employees receive $1.00 per hour, an increase of 10c over former scales.
A 5c hourly jump was granted to cleaners and packers, chain ladies, punch girls, floormen, hoistmen, chief label machine operator, and tuna cooker operator:
Piece rates for cleaning were boosted from 15c to 18c, all packing rates rose 4c per unit with a 12c to 21c range per unit, depending on size and kind of pack.
A $2.50 weekly increase was recorded in both weighmen and engineer classifications.
Another major point, accepted in 1940 and still in effect is the clause allowing time and one-half over eight hours or after 5 p.m.
The wage increase request accepted by the WLB was prepared jointly by Local 64 and the Van Camp Company.
Canned Atlantic Fish Ceiling Set
Previous orders setting ceiling prices for canned Atlantic fish have been consolidated into one order, A-1184, which went into effect May 15.
This order is the first to fix ceilings on sales by packers to assemblers, the prices being about 10 per cent lower than those allowed for sales by packers and assemblers to wholesalers. An exception is made for packers on the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Their ceilings to assemblers are about 15 percent below their ceilings to wholesalers, but on sales to assemblers they are not required to provide packing cases or to pack the containers in the packing case.
Do You Know:
qpHOUGH a good fish, the cusk (known scientifically as Bros-me) wouid never win a prize in a fish beauty show. An odd feature is that its fins run almost around the full length of its body Canada's cusk landings, perhaps 1,500,000 pounds a year, are practic ally all taken in Nova Scotia waters.
* • •
TN protein content British Colum-bia oysters average about 9.4 and their energy value runs to something like 340 calories to the pound. Of course, though, it is palate appeal that does most to account for oyster popularity. The shellfish are taken in Atlantic waters as well as in Pacific areas
j^yHITEFISH, cod, haddock, hake, halibut, cusk and pollock are different kinds of fish, the first a freshwater species, the others sea dwellers, but they're all alike in being bottom feeders. The sea species in the group are known in the fishing industry as "ground fish."
* * * CANADA'S fisheries production ^ in 1941 amounted in value to $62,259,000, roundly stated. In 1916, corresponding period in the Great War of 1914-18, fisheries production was- valued at a little more than $39,208,000.
* * *
"DRITISH COLUMBIA whaling vessels captured 163 whales, most of them Sperms, in their 1942 operations, a sharp decrease from the landings in other recent years. The average annual catch in the five preceding years, 1936-41, was 310.
* * *
l^OVA SCOTIA is Canada's big-gest producer of cod and lobster. Much of the cod catch goes into dried fish production and much of the lobster catch is canned, although many lobsters are marketed alive.
* * *
/~vN Canada's prairie lakes a good ^ deal of fishing is done through winter's ice. Gill-nets set under the ice are used. The fish freeze, of course, as soon as they are brought out of the water and thrown on the ice,
Need Vast Herring Supplies To Feed Europe's Millions
The Herring Industry Committee of Great Britain in a unanimous report published recently stated that Herring, jok-unanimous report published recently stated that herring, jok-eyed steak" will have to be supplied in enormous quantity immediately following victory in order to help feed Europe's hungry millions. The immediate reconstituting
| Nimpkish Metal Works j;
758 POWELL STREET HAstings 5338
We offer ... A complete Marine Sheet Metal Service, especially designed for the independent fisherman.
! WE SERVICE the FISHING FLEET |
THE ANGLO-BRITISH COLUMBIA \ PACKING CO. LTD.
H. BELL-IRVING & CO. LTD. - Agents VANCOUVER, B.C.
Packers and Distributors of Canned Salmon Since 1891
"The Fishermen's Welfare is Our Welfare"
Western Leckie Ltd
DISTRIBUTORS of
• Barbou: & Knox Salmon Gill Nets and Twines
• "Knox" K.X. Super Cotton Seine Web
• •'Imperi" Cotton Ropes and Twines
• "Finlayson's" B.C. Leader Line
• Tarred Halibut Lines
• West Cast Trolling Equipment
HEADQUARTERS for COMMERCIAL FISHING EQUIPMENT AND MARINE HARDWARE
o 148 Alexander St.
Vancouver, B.C.
When You Order
Gill Netting
Direct or through the Canneries, specify
Stuart's "Irish" Flax
CUPRINOL
for the Protection of All Timber Against Decay and Dry Rot, and the Attacks of Wood-Destroying Insects. For Preserving Nets and Lines, Sails, Canvas, Awnings, Etc. Write, Phone or Call for Sample. Illustrated Folder and Prices.
Q/PbinOV j. S. TAIT & CO. LTD.
940 Richards St. - Vancouver, B.C.
of the Herring Board with extensive powers to plan the future of the industry is recommended by the committee, which was ap-ponted by the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Home Secretary.
Dehydration and freezing to deal with seasonal gluts and further experiments in locating herring shoals from the air are also recommended by the report.
Fishing grants must be available to ensure that there is a sufficient fleet of fishing-boats and enough nets and other gear, and. —above all—enough men in the industry.
RENEWING FLEET
The industry would have to provide many new boats if the fleet is to remain seaworthy.
Even the oldest boats will be needed in the first post-war period. Later the aim should be to limit additions and replacements to the number that can provide a reasonable living for their crews.
In pre-war days, states the report, the main cause of the depression was the low earnings of the fishermen. Remuneration and conditions must be made sufficient to attract people to the industry.
Many of the young fishermen will leave the Forces or Merchant Navy, from which they should get early release, with sufficient capital to buy boats and gear.
To assist the fishermen the committee recommends:
(1) Grants and loans to enable fishermen to purchase boats and gear;
(2) That the Board obtain boats on charter to young men returning from the Services and Merchant Navy;
(3) The appointment of a joint industrial council for the industry to devise schemes of minimum wages for the shore fishermen.
A minimum price for the whole catch has proved a failure, and the committee favor the retention of sales by auction, with a system of differential minimum price and the pooling at ports or by areas.
The Herring Industry Board must dispose of surplus herrings, and for this purpose they should be given powers to buy and sell as an ordinary business concern.
B.C. FUNERAL CO. ,Hayward'" LTD.
734 Broughton St.
VICTORIA, B.C.
Established 1867
Telephone: E mpire 3814
Reg. Hayward^ Man. Dir.
This is our 76th year of continued service in Victoria and District. All Charges Marked in Plain Figures
BUY WAR SAVINGS STAMPS
Fifty Years Ago
May 12, 1894—Salmon and halibut were retailing in Vancouver at ten cents a pound, cod at eight cents, herring at five cents and trout at 12% cents.—The; Sun.
Always "The Best for Less"
VANCOUVER, B.C. WRITE FOR CATALOGUES
EngineRepairs
We Specialize in
REGRINDING or REBORING CYLINDERS
MARINE AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINES—GAS OR DIESEL SEALED POWER PISTON RINGS
Patterns of every engine piston in use in British Columbia. Marine Clutches and Reverse Gears repaired and rebuilt. Send your next rebore job to . . .
RELIANCE MOTOR & MACHINE WORKS Ltd.
395 Alexander St. PAc. 3345 Vancouver, B.C.
I dreamed that I paid $5.00 for a haircut and $50.00 for a pair of cardboard shoes. I dreamed that we had no wartime controls on prices, profits or wages, and that we hadn't had the sense to organize the distribution of supplies all the way down the line . . .
I dreamed that because everyone was making more money and spending it, prices were skyrocketing.
all the stores looked like "fire" sales . . . with people scrambling to buy before prices went still higher . . .
panicky people were buying things they didn't need, and hoarding everything they could get their hands on . . .
I dreamed that everybody had to fight to get more money . .. and that in this mad race, wages and salaries were falling behind.
I dreamed the hand of everyone was against his neighbour, with each of us blaming the other fellow for his troubles.
with everybody for himself . . . no matter what it cost in the long run . . . and no matter how it hurt the war effort.
3 ^ aJ
to realize with relief that I live in a country where things are sane and stable ... where the cost of living has been kept within bounds.
to realize that prices and wages—production costs and selling prices—are inseparably linked together.
to realize that without the safeguards that have headed off inflation, my nightmare might have become a reality!
to remind myself that the danger Is still pressing and that we must continue to hold firm . . . and that means everybody must play fair and do his part by not trying to get some temporary, fancied advantage at the ex-- pense of his fellow-Canadians.
Ait adVertliement la on* of a lerlei being lnued by the Government of Canada le empho.ii. the importance of prarentmg further Incream In the coft of living now and deflation later.