LII3RA17.Y NS C(.1;772,, ,-)011 V,IEST Fte 24 3 Fjp,o.:ay:s CANADA OTTSWA, Or..;`1.2.:210, 1(1A. Wi7,6 e, ‘-;/- N 1,101te _Ale)OCEe3 Vet VISI-e'PeS 11,0011. esràzs s.rr., 240 Oefe.10i CeA.D.A. • • .. 'UPI. 0E6 , s.. , Being the Ninety-second Annual Fisheries Report of the Government of Canada ERRATA Department of Fisheries of Canada, Annual Report, 1958-59. Page 32, paragraph 1, line 4, the figure '1960' should read '1959 1 . Page 51, paragraph 1, line 8, the figure '1947' should read '1957'. 78047-8--1 4 THE QuEEN's PRINTER AND CONTROLLER OF STATIONERY OTTAWA, 1960 Price 50 cents. Cat. No. Fs. 1-59 To His Excellency Major-General Georges P. Vanier, D.S.O., M.C., C.D., Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada. May it Please Your Excellency : I have the honour herewith, for the information of Your Excellency and the Parliament of Canada, to present the Annual Report of the Department of Fisheries for the fiscal year 1958-1959. Respectfully submitted Minister of Fisheries. 78047-8--1I 4 To The Honourable J. Angus MaCLean, M.P., Minister of Fisheries, Ottawa, Canada. Sir: I submit herewith the Annual Report of the Department of Fisheries for the fiscal year 1958-1959. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant e,6) • Deputy Minister. CONTENTS Page Introduction 7 Conservation and Development Service 10 Departmental Vessels 29 Inspection and Consumer Service 32 Economics Service 44 Information and Educational Service 46 Industrial Development Service 49 1 Fishermen's Indemnity Plan 51 Fisheries Prices Support Board 53 Fisheries Research Board of Canada 56 International Commissions 70 Special Committees 92 The Fishing Industry 93 Statistics of the Fisheries 99 APPENDICES 1. Financial Statements 2. Fish Culture Development Statements XVII 5 Flounders being spilled Into checkers on deck of an Atlantic trawler. 6 INTRODUCTION ITH an annual catch of all species of fish and shellfish amounting to nearly two billion pounds, worth about $116 million to approximately 80,000 men engaged in commercial fishing, Canada ranks as a leading producer and exporter of the world's fishery products. The export value of the 1958 catch was $155 million, about two thirds of which came from the United States and most of the remainder from the United Kingdom, continental Europe and the Caribbean countries. Details of the catch and its disposal are contained in this report, together with an account of the work of the Department of Fisheries in all fields related to the sea and inland fishery resources. On the Pacific coast British Columbia's Centennial Year, 1958, was one of record-breaking proportions in the fishing industry, the highlight being an excep- tionally high return of Adams River sockeye salmon to the Fraser River system. In the Maritime Provinces results were considered satisfactory by comparison with other years both with regard to catch and landed values, although some segments of the industry still suffered from low returns for products in relation to continuing increased costs of production. Overall results of fishing activities in Newfoundland were disappointing. In spite of an increase in numbers of fishermen there, total landings of all species were substantially lower than in the previous year, and the production of salted fish was the lowest on record. The Canada Fisheries Act was proclaimed in Newfoundland to be effective May 1, 1958. This Act is a comprehensive one, the main points covered being the 1 powers of the Minister of Fisheries and fishery officers, the conservation and pro- tection of various species of fish, authority for fishery regulations, the problem of pollution and obstruction of streams and the licensing of fishing vessels and fishermen. On January 28-29, 1959, federal fisheries officials met with representatives of the inland provinces to discuss fisheries matters of mutual interest. This was the first meeting of its kind to be held for several years, and provided a forum for the consideration of common problems in fisheries management. In discharging its responsibilities to the fishermen, the processing industry, the general public and the resource itself, the Department encountered and dealt with new problems, especially in the field of conservation and development, which are outlined in the next chapter. During 1958 agreement was reached with the industry on processing standards to be adopted for fresh and frozen fish, these standards to be issued by the Canadian Government Specifications Board. Develop- mental projects in the interest of the fishing industry were undertaken in several fields, including exploratory fishing and experimental work with new catching devices and processing equipment. The Department continued to utilize press, radio, television, motion pictures, filmstrips, and talks as well as its own publications 7 and pamphlets to inform the public as well as those directly concerned with the fisheries of all new trends and developments, and to acquaint consumers with fishery products so that the industry and individual fishermen might benefit through increased consumption of fish on the home market. During 1958-59 discussions were held between departmental economists and representatives of the Dominion Bureau of Statistics and the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, with a view to improving the timeliness and accuracy of statistical services in the Maritime Provinces. As a result of these discussions, a comprehensive survey yielding a quantitative description of the characteristics of the fishing population, with the enterprise as a basic unit, was designed and completed, and a permanent register of this information is planned. In continued co-operation with the International Passamaquoddy Commission, a general survey of the principal fisheries as well as reports on particular aspects of the industry in the Passamaquoddy area were completed. These were necessary because of the proposed tidal power development in the Bay of Fundy. An increased amount of effort over that of previous years was employed in special regional economic studies aimed at the accurate planning and appraisal of public investment. These studies dealt with the Department's bait assistance programme for fishermen, the performance of subsidized fishing vessels and the economic impact on individual communities of public works projects. On the Pacific coast the growing emphasis on development of the fishing industry resuked in an increased number of requests for sta.tistical and economic information. Statistical reports published include monthly and annual catch statis- tics, an annual report on production and investment, and weekly production and market reports. The results of a survey on sport fishing begun in 1957 were published as a supplement to the Sport Fishery Statistical Report for 1958, and the record of fishing licenses in British Columbia was maintained. Special studies were begun on the fisheries of the Northwest Territories and others continued on the British Columbia salmon and halibut fisheries. A dogfish subsidy programme was put into operation to help reduce the predations of this species on valuable commercial stocks. One chapter of this report gives a brief account of the biological, technological and oceanographic work of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, which functions under the authority of the Minister of Fisheries and as such is the scientific arm of the Department. Details of the Board's investigations and experiments connected with practical and economic problems connected with marine and freshwater fisheries, flora and fauna are contained in the Board's own report, published annually. The Fisheries Prices Support Board, which also operates under the Minister of Fisheries, is made up of five representatives from the fishing industry who attend meetings of the Board on call and a permanent chairman. The year 1958-59 was one of comparatively good prices to fishermen in all producing areas and no specific measures of support were necessary. At the request of the Minister the Board met on two occasions to deal with a serious problem of income deficiency over a widespread area of Newfoundland, where failure of the catch resulted in a sharp reduction in the production of salted cod. While the problem could not be alleviated 8 under the provisions of the Fisheries Prices Support Act the Board recommended and the Government approved a programme calling for the construction of 20 "community stages- in the most seriously affected areas. , The year 1958-59 was one of further extension and progress under the Fisher- .1 against loss of or damage 1 men's Indemnity Plan which provides low cost protection I to fishing boats valued under $10,000, and to lobster traps. 1 The growth of the vessel part of the Plan during the year was quite substantial, ', with 785 vessels being added to the insured fleet. All areas in varying degrees : contributed to the growth. The insured value at March 31, 1959, had reached an j all time high of $14.62 million. With a larger insured fleet, it was not surprising j that more claims were paid during 1958-59 than in any previous fiscal year. Despite I that fact, however, only three per cent of the total number of policies underwritten • since the inception of the Plan in mid-1953 had produced claims. ... The programme of insuring lobster traps was continued. There was a slightly : greater acceptance of this phase of the Plan than in previous years, but the increase .. in premiums was insignificant compared to the very substantial increase in claims : resulting from severe ice conditions and storms, particularly in Newfoundland and ; the Maritime Provinces. In Quebec, the opera.tion was reasonably successful , throughout 1958-59. The Department is called upon to see that Canada's responsibi lities under ï treaties with other countries for conservation of the resources of the high seas and international fresh waters are carried out.