January, 1959 PUBLISHED MONTHLY by the DEPARTMENT of FISHERIES of CANADA

January, 1959 PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES OF CANADA

CON T EN TS

VOL. 11 NO. 7

FEATURES

Newfoundland Schooners Made History 3 Vanishing Banking Fleet 6 Work of Fisheries Scientists Lauded 9

CANADIAN FISHERIES NEWS

Departmental Officials at 10th Annual Meeting 12 New Recipe Booklets 12 Vessel, Gear Conference 13 Fisheries Coin 13 Murals in Lunenburg Memorial Chamber 13 Federal, Provincial Officials Discuss Inland Fisheries 14 Fishery Figures for November 15

FISHERIES NEWS FROM ABROAD

The Mexican Market for Fish 17 Atomic Energy and World Fisheries Development 18

CURRENT READING 19

COVER PHOTOGRAPH: An old picture of Lunenburg harbour, taken when that Nova S c o ti an port was the home of a large schooner fleet sailing to the Grand Banks. See articles starting on pages 3 and 6.

The contents of TRADE NEWS have not been copyrighted and may be reprinted although ref ence to the source would be appreciated. For further information regarding TRADE NEWS w to the Director of Information and Educational Service, Department of Fisheries, Ottawa, Can. In the Changing Deepsea Codfishery Newfoundland Schooners Made History

By BRUCE WOODLAND

ONG BEFORE any serious attempt to establish L permanent settlement in the New World, New- foundland coves and inlets were shore stations for Europe an fishermen, chiefly French and Portu- guese, who fished the Grand Banks. Indeed, it is the claim of some historians that Portuguese fishermen discovered and fished the Banks around the year 1450 and established stations in Newfoundland as early as 1493.

It is a matter of record that, in the very early 1500's, fairly large fleets of French and Portuguese vessels were actively fishing the Banks adjoining Newfoundland. The French operated out of harbours along the south coast of the Island while the Portu- guese located on the Avalon Peninsula. Both these fleets had ample supplies of salt used in the curing of fish. Consequently they were able to make longer voyages than the English fishermen, whose supplies of salt were limited. The latter group were to develop a shore fishery and the well known light salted cure of fish. A typical Newfoundland banking schooner. as in 1775 the British Government offered bounty The French banking fleet, enjoying an eager payments to encourage the expansion of the off- and large home market for its catch, gradually be- shore fishery. The effect of the bounty payments came the dominant fleet on the Banks. In the early was minimized by the activities of New England 17th century, well over 300 vessels sailed each year privateers who were a scourge to fishing fleets on from France for the Newfoundland Banks; the port the Banks during and after the American Revolu- of St. Malo alone had 120 ships there in 1617. tion. The Banks fishery was practically abandoned and some of the larger vessels are said to have In the 1700's, English ships from Newfound- moved to northern ports to engage in the seal fish- land moved to the "offer grounds" in search of cod. ery, which was then assuming some importance in This is said to have resulted mainly from the fail- Newfoundland. ure of the shore fishery. More than 200 ships out- fitted for the Banks and sailed from such ports as Although no statistical record is available Bay Bulls, Cape Broyle, Ferryland, Fermeuse and there was evidently a remarkable upsurge in inter- Trepas sey. est in the Banks in the 1800's. In 1889, Newfound- land boasted a banking fleet of 330 vessels. In the The steady growth of the Banks fishery, which annual report of the Newfoundland Department of permitted year round fishing operations was bound Fisheries, 1894, reference is made to a rapid de- to have an influence upon Newfoundland. Dean H.A. cline in the number of vessels prosecuting the Bank Innis in his book "The Codfishery" (1954) observes, fishery. In that year there were only 58 bankers. "The development of the Bank fishery .... and in- Evidently the Department felt that the American and creasing difficulty with the settlements, particularly Canadian banking fleets were doing much better than in the winter season, made the demand for an im- their own and this concern was reflected in a rather provement of Government machinery inevitable". unusual report which pointed out that Newfoundland It was in 1729 that Captain Henry Osborne was ap- "bankers" had dwindled in number "due to the fail- pointed the first Governor of Newfoundland. ure of making (the Banks fishery) a paying business". The report went on to list the numerous The Newfoundland Bank fishery appears to opinions of owners and ex-owners on the one hand have declined somewhat during the late 18th century, and those of the skippers and crews on the other.

-3- Some rather interesting reasons were given by both it had only 10 bankers. These were subsequently sides. The ship owners suggested that the food bill equipped for the Labrador fishery and other opera- of the Newfoundland B anke r s was too high; that tions so that by 1903 Catalina had no bankers what- "Frenchmen spoiled the Banks by fishing up so soever. much periwinkles", and that the system of paying wages was wrong; at St. John's, men were paid so Grand Bank on the Burin Peninsula became much per 1,000 fish and this resulted in "nothing but the "capital" of the Newfoundland Banks fishery be- small fish being brought home from the Banks". fore the turn of the century. There, several firms, The owners also contended that "the men best suited whose willingness to gamble on a most speculative for (the Banks fishery) had left Newfoundland for venture was only exceeded by their business acu- America and British Columbia". (Large numbers men, created one of the most prosperous fishing of Newfoundlanders moved to far-off British Col- communities in Newfoundland. Not only did Grand umbia in the 1880's and 90's to engage in the whale Bank fall heir to much of the vanishing glory of fishery, and most of them stayed on. In 1957, New- older Banking towns like Lunenburg and Gloucester, foundland seamen were again recruited by B.C. but also, many of the larger and better equipped whaling interests). vessels from these ports were brought in. Scores of old and new banking schooners were purchased The skippers and crews suggested "that the from Lunenburg, particularly, and this in turn cre- Newfoundland mode of living on beef and pork ated a shipbuilding boom at Shelburne, N. S. The largely meant more expense than the American trade in vessels was one which continued to com- 'sweet living' but that the Americans had better paratively recent years. In the ordinary course of cooks". Some skippers urged "married men should events, the Lunenburg bankers were operated in the be avoided as much as possible.. after taking up a Banks fishery for a period and subsequently sold to load of goods in advance they become careless, get firms engaged in the Labrador fishery or coastal tired of the vessel and want to leave." freighting. Several of them are still freighting in Newfoundland and, in 1958, two former Lunenburg THE AMERICAN OPINION bankers, the "Isabelle Spindler" and the "Lila A. Boutillier", were among five vessels in the Labra- In the Newfoundland Government's anxiety to dor "floater" fishery. It is a fact that most of the find out why the Banks fishery compared unfavour- schooners owned and built at Lunenburg and Shel- ably with that of the New England States, the Boston burne since the turn of the century, eventually came Fish Bureau was asked for an opinion. It replied, into Newfoundland ownership. "It is because the Americans are very particular about their fishing gear and have finer vessels and go on a long voyage". The success of the Bank Fishery created an era of unprecedented prosperity along the south Most of this effort to determine the causes of coast of Newfoundland. Breaking the St. John's the decline in the numb e r s of the Newfoundland monopoly on the fish export trade, several south "bankers" appears to have little justification in re- coast firms made direct contact with foreign mar- trospect. For in the '80's and early '90's there were kets and shipped fish in their own vessels. Grand several poor fishing seasons and market prices fell Bank alone exported 126,000 quintals of salted fish off drastically. This inevitably led to financial in one good season. chaos and many firms declared bankruptcy in this period, directly as a result of their speculation in Quite often the men who shipped the "foreign Banks fishing, a gamble at the best of times. Nova going" vessels had but the bare rudiments of navi- Scotian and New England fishing fleets also were gation. The story is told of one skipper who took a reduced in number in this period. The United States load of fish to Italy before World War I. He could New England fleet dropped from a total of 339 bank- neither read nor write and knew little of the signif- ers in 1888 to 82 in 1894. icance of charts. However he succeeded in making the run back and forth across the Atlantic in excel- Despite the sharp decline in the numbers of lent time. When asked how he did this, he replied, Newfoundland vessels engaged in the Banks fishery "I stopped everything I saw on the ocean and asked in the period 1889-94, it was roughly at this time the way." that the Banks fishery was developed into an important business on the Island. Largely, this came Just prior to World War I, the modern-day about through the perseverance of fish merchants in Banks fishery reached its peak in Newfoundland. such south coast communities as Grand Bank and Catches were generally high and markets were Burin, coupled with the gradual switch to fresh fish good. During that war, marketing and shipping dif- production in New England and Nova Scotia. ficulties plagued the industry and the fleet began to taper off fairly rapidly. By 1919, there were only Earlier, the Newfoundland Banks fishery had 41 "Bankers" actively fishing, compared with 105 in been prosecuted from ports along the south and east 1914. There was a slight increase in the number of coasts, north to Catalina. Catalina was at one time vessels in the '20's but changes in market demands one of the chief centers of the fishery, but by 1902 and in processing and fishing methods began to have

-4- their effect. Inevitably the old Banks fishery began tion and Sale of Herring, Caplin, Squid and other its last decline. The merchants who continued to Bait Fishes". This act appears to have been aimed operate the large banking schooners no longer found chiefly at restricting the French banks fishery, al- it profitable to replace them. In the late '20's and though it also led to a series of disputes between early '30's the initial efforts were made to establish Newfoundland and the Canadian and U.S. govern- freezing plants in Newfoundland and in 1936, steam ments. trawlers (draggers) made their first appearance. It is interesting to note that initially the trawlers' The Newfoundland government's attitude is catches were split and salted while the freezing made crystal clear in the annual report of the De- plants secured their supplies from inshore boats. partment of Fisheries for 1903: "The Bait Protec- tion Service, etc. etc." By 1932, according to the report of the De- partment of F i she r i e s , Newfoundland had but 24 Fisheries 1903: "The bait protection service Bankers, 15 of them out of Grand Bank. Following was so well carried out that practically no bait is the depression years there was again a brief period smuggled to St. Pierre (for the French bankers). of revived interest in the Banks but the traditional The best proof of the efficiency of the service is the banking schooner continued to disappear. almost total failure of the French Banks fishing entirely through want of bait". The Government's It is rather difficult to pinpoint the actual end stand was reflected in other, rather remarkable of the old Banks fishery. For several years dur- ways. In 1907, convictions registered in Newfound- ing and after World War Ha few vessels were mainland courts for breaches of the Fisheries Regula- tained in operation serving as bankers as well as tions, etc., were listed in the Annual Report of the freighters. Records indicate that the last banking Department of Fisheries. It is rather interesting to schooner to sail from Grand Bank did so in 1951. note that, in the case of a man who was found guilty One or two others may have continued to operate out of deliberate damage to the expensive fishing gear of other south coast ports for a year or so after of an American Banker, the fine was $10.00; where- this. By this time the Banks fishery had become a as another who smuggled a few hundred pounds of fresh fish operation essentially and official statis- squid was fined $180.00. tics for several years refer only to "the deep sea fishery" and figures include the various types of The demands for bait arising from the boats such as long-liners, Danish s e ine r s, and Banks fishery resulted in the creation of bait hold- draggers used in this operation. ing facilities on the south coast as early as 1892. Bait was iced down and in some cases "quick fro- No story of the Banks fishery could be com- zen" in containers similar to the old hand-freezers plete without reference to bait fish -- the herring, used in making ice-cream. As modern-day re- caplin and squid which were so vital to the success frigeration methods were introduced, Government- or failure of the fishery. The development of the owned bait depots increased in number and eventu- "bultow" or trawl-line method of f i s hing by the ally were placed under the authority of the Depart- French, and the adoption of this method by other ment of Fisheries. fleets, created a tremendous demand for these bait THE BANKS FISHERY TODAY fishes. Trips to the Banks were numbered in "bait- Although the traditional Banks fishery has ings" -- and successful banking schooners might been virtually a b and one d by Newfoundland, Nova have four or five separate baitings a year. Scotia and the United States, the operation is still carried on by European fleets, especially the Por- Newfoundland's coastal waters teemed with tuguese ("Trade News", July, 1954). An active caplin in late spring, squid in summer and herring trade still exists in supplying these ships with bait in winter, and it was natural that all vessels turned and other requirements. to the island for bait supplies. The Newfoundland seamen who had manned Foreign vessels, disregarding territorial wa- the banking schooners either took up shore positions ters, sailed in the bays and inlets where bait fish or joined the crews of draggers and other deep-sea were in abundance and took the supplies they ships. Many left their homes and moved to Nova needed, or else bought them from residents in iso- Scotia where they found employment afloat, some lated areas. The government of the island be- of them taking up "halibutting" and swordfishing. came enraged at this free trade and violation of territorial waters, and attempts were made to control From Newfoundland, the only ships to sail to the sale of bait through legislation. the Banks now are the draggers whose catches go to Special taxes were imposed on bait fish as the large fish processing plants along the south early as 1846, but the difficulties involved in en- coast and on the Avalon Peninsula . They are forcing this legislation were such as to nullify its manned almost exclusively by south coast men who effect. In 1887, through continual pressure on the live up to the reputation of their forebears as the B riti sh government, Newfoundland succeeded in best deep-sea fishermen that Ne wf oundland has gaining approval of an act regulating "The Exporta- produced. ler

-5- jtere ilamdful of Schooners Reniains

Of Nora Scotia's. ..

Vanishing Banking Fleet

By G.J. GILLESPIE

ERE'S history, and a bit of poetry too, in the pretty-sounding names in the following jingle: A section of the Lunenburg waterfront in the days of Palatia, Quisetta, Companion, Vendetta, the sailing schooners. Mattawa, Nicola and Jean Madeline. Sigrid, Amanda, Matauga, Marina, the schooner. Dorymen are hard to come by in Montana, Nahada and Princess Arlene. these days of streamlined fishing. Hauling trawl Clintonia, Mahaska and Caroline Rose, from the deck of a dragger is much more comfort- And queen of them all, the gallant Bluenose. able than hand-lining from a bouncing dory on the sullen and unpredictable Grand Banks. There's history in those names because they were among the hundreds of vessels of Lunenburg's Take that assurance from husky Willoughby vanished schooner fleet of yesteryear. All those Ritcey, owner of five of the surviving schooners. ships are gone now -- and scores of others, too -- Mr. Ritcey, head of a Riverport, Lunenburg County, and all that is left of that once mighty fleet is a fish company and a past president of the Canadian handful of schooners to recall the glory of a vanish- Fisheries Council, is quick to defend the worth of a ing age. schooner.

Only 11 schooners are left now to carry on the "You can't beat 'em for salt fishing," de- tradition of another day when the high spars of clares Mr. Ritcey. "In trawl fishing from a dory bankers riding at anchor in Lune nbu r g harbour you can make a selection of fish that can't be done could be counted like the lofty trees shading the by trawlers. We get large cod by dory fishing. narrow streets of the old fishing port. There is no doubt but that the schooner is the best suited for the salt fish trade." Passing of the spoon-bowed bankers of grace- ful lines, with dories stacked like saucers on their Two of Mr. Ritcey's schooners are about 20 decks, brings more than a whisper of sadness in the years old. The other three were built since the end reminiscences of Nova Scotia's seafaring clans. of World War II. There is still a lot of life left in When the last of the surviving 11 vessels disappears them and he will continue to fish them as long as he from the seaways, about the only constant visible can get men to man them. To build a schooner now reminder of the era of big bankers will be the im- and put her on the banks would cost about $200, 000, print of the "Bluenose" -- the most famous of them almost seven times the cost of the Bluenose. all -- on the tailside of a Canadian dime. While the fishing schooner forms part of the High building costs and the lack of men to whole of Nova Scotia's saga of the sea, its main man the dories have contributed to the decline of chapters were written by the men of Lunenburg. It

- 6 - Lunenburg salt-banker of an earlier day in a breeze of wind. was there in that town of neat homes and a snug shore vessels, more than 3,000 Lunenburgers were harbour, settled long ago by Hanoverian Germans, directly engaged in catching fish in that period. that the province's multi-million dollar fishing industry had its birth. Toward the end of the last century, bigger ships were demanded by Lunenburg fishermen -- From the time the pioneers of Lunenburg set- vessels able to withstand the roughest seas fierce tled more than 200 years ago, it was on the bounty Atlantic gales could stir up. of the sea that they founded their prosperity. Fish- ing became, and still is, Lunenburg's basic indus- Those bigger ships were built. Few were the try. places they wouldn't venture. In the decade before the turn of the present century, Lunenburg bankers It was Lunenburg seafarers who pioneered were rounding Cape Horn to hunt seals in the far- bigger Canadian schooners to fish the Grand Banks. away Bering Sea. The schooner "Geneva" sailed Those craft, built around the middle of the last cen- from Halifax to Victoria, B.C., via Cape Horn, in tury, were vessels of 50 tons or less. Less than 108 days. Even the gallant "Marco Polo" -- a Saint half the size of the bankers of today. John-built clipper ship whose bones now rest at the foot of a sinister ledge off Cavendish, P. E.I. -- By the late 1860's, the deepsea fishing fleet couldn't beat that. in Lunenburg County had nearly 150 schooners averaging 57 tons each. Their crews totalled about Memories of those days of sail in this century 1,800 men. Coupled with the 1,500 men sailing in- and the last bring nostalgic memories to elder Nova

-7- Scotians who recall those stoutly-rigged ships head- ful diesels were installed in the bankers. Tall ing seaward under great spreads of sail. spars were shortened and the wide spread of canvas was reduced to short sail, and engines drove the There was keen competition, too, among the vessels from 10 to 12 knots an hour. masters. When two or more vessels cleared harbour at the same time, the skippers never passed SOME SOLD, SOME LOST up the chance for a race. They carried all the canvas a ship could bear. "What she won't carry, she By the time World War II started, about all can drag" was their motto. the schooners were power driven. At the war's end, the fleet had dwindled. Some schooners, in- The late Capt. William Frederick Wallace, cluding the "Bluenose", had been sold; others had Canada's beloved writer of sealore whose death worn out and others had been lost. The "Bluenose" occurred last year, had this memory of racing was finally lost off the coast of Haiti in 1946. bankers. "I have seen them, on many occasions, with the vessel crowded down with so much canvas Now, with only 11 schooners left, it is just a on her that the whole lee rail was buried in foam matter of time when they too will be gone. When and the sea was splashing half-way up the sloping that last banker finds an ocean grave or moulders deck." away on some lonely beach, the schooner story will be ended. Its epitaph will be the last word in as As the giddy '20's passed in this century, the glorious a tale as has ever been recorded in the sea doom of the sailing schooner was at hand. Power- annals of a province or nation.

"Obstruction" Buoys Mark Atlantic Telephone Cable

A bright, yellow and red buoy may be seen bobbing in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North America and Europe this year and next. It marks an important "obstruction" to ships and fishermen. —B For in the vicinity of one of these buoy s and stretching all the way to the mainland will be a newly laid telephone cable which may weigh as much as 25 tons per nautical mile.

The American Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany, with other companies and governmental agen, cies, is now engaged in the construction of telephone cable systems between United States and Europe and the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

In addition to the brightly painted areas on its top, the buoy has several other features which help ship captains to spot it. A brightly colored flag is mounted about eight feet above the buoy that helps to locate it in the daytime, navigational lights make it visible at night, and a reflector provides a means of detection by ships equipped with radar.

Trawlers operating near these buoys might snag buoy moorings, or hook the cable. This, of c our s e , could mean the loss of trawling gear or serious damage to the cable.

Buoys used to anchor submarine cable are constructed of high grade boiler steel. They weigh 1-1/2 tons and can support six tons of moorings. through ring (F) and other (G) a "lazy leg" - used Shown at the right is the buoy used to anchor for releasing buoy when recovering cable - is fas- cable -ends. Cage -like wire device at top (A) house s tened to chain (H) by a trip. Chain holds mushroom radar reflector. Two lights (B) in horizontal plane anchor (I) and rope extending about a mile on ocean denote "obstruction". Batteries for lights are in floor to cable-end (J). Rope is secured to cable by dome (C). Suspended from trip (D) are two steel chain in a "timber hitch". Cable-end may also be ropes. One (E), which holds the cable, passes surface buoyed.

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Discussing a point at the annual meeting in Ottawa Work of of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, (left to right): Board Chairman Dr. J. L. Kask, Dr. J. M. R. Beveridge, Kingston, Deputy Minister of Fisheries George R. Clark, D.F. Miller, Vancou- Fisheries ver, and Hon. J. Angus MacLean, Minister of Fish- eries 4 Scientists Lauded units across Canada in fisheries biology, technology and oceanography, and blueprinted future plans.

Dr. Kask pointed out that during 1958, as in ANADIANS can take real pride in the work of former years, the Board's scientific programmes C Canada's Fisheries Research Board, Hon. had continued to increase in number and complexity. J.A. MacLean, Minister of Fisheries, declared at To meet this broadening responsibility, certain the Board's annual meeting in Ottawa in January. noteworthy new facilities had been added. These included the Board's first large modern research "Knowledge," Mr. MacLean said, "is the key vessel, the 177-foot "A. T. Cameron" which was to success and we cannot maintain our basic re- placed in service during the year and which has al- sources, such as fisheries, to the fullest advantage ready completed several investigational cruises. for Canadians of the present and the future unless The "Cameron" serves the biological stations at we can unlock the secrets of nature and work with St. John's, Newfoundland, and St. Andrews, N. B. , 4 nature." and her range of operations will cover the entire Canadian Atlantic seaboard. Important construc- Mr. MacLean pointed out that there was an tion projects completed or nearly so during the year increasing appreciation on the part of the Canadian included a new technological laboratory in Vancou- parliament of the fine work being done by the Board, ver, B.C., major renovations of a business block the Department's scientific agency and by the per- in London, Ont., as a laboratory and headquarters sonnel engaged in fisheries research all across for the Board's fresh water biological and techno- Canada. logical services, additional facilities for the staff in the Great Slave Lake area, and a new wing for the Fisheries Deputy Minister George R. Clark Board's Biological Station at St. Andrews, N. B. said that the Department of Fisheries leaned very Last year also marked the 50th anniversaries of the heavily onthe staff of the Fisheries Research Board Board's stations at St. Andrews, N.B. , and Nanai- to meet Canada's commitments in the fields of re- mo, B.C. search as a member of seven international fisheries commissions. Mr. Clark said that the Board's sci- Among the new programmes undertaken dur- entists were making an outstanding contribution in ing the year was the establishment of a fishing gear the field of international fisheries research. research unit with headquarters at the Nanaimo Bio- logical Station. A unit was also set up to study the Presided over by Board Chairman Dr. J.L. effects of pollution and other activities of man on Kask, the meeting reviewed progress made at the fish and other living organisms at the St. Andrews Board's nine major research centres and special (N. B. ) Biological Station.

-9- Members of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada and officials of the Department of Fisheries at the Board's annual meeting. Front row (left to right): Dr. P. E. Gagnon, Quebec, Que.; Assistant Board Chairman O.C. Young; Deputy Minister of Fisheries George R. Clark; Hon. J. Angus MacLean, Minister of Fisheries; Board Chairman Dr. J. L. Kask; Dr. T.W.M. Cameron, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que.; Dr. F. R. Hayes, Halifax. Back row (1. to r.): C. E. Desourdy, Montreal; Professor E. S. Pretious, Van- couver; Dr. Lucien Piche, Montreal; Martin K. Eriksen, Prince Rupert, B.C.; D.F. Miller, Vancouver; Dr. D.B. DeLury, Toronto; Dr. A.L. Pritchard, Ottawa; L.R. Omstead, Wheatley, Ont.; W.L. William- son, St. Andrews, N.B. ; Dr. J.M.R. Beveridge, Kingston, Ont.; C.J. Morrow, Lunenburg.

The terms of three members of the Board who volume and value to fishermen, in this area. Cod, had given long and outstanding service expired on haddock and redfish a re the principal species, and December 31, 1958. These are: Dr. J.R. Dymond, flatfish also contribute to overall landings. Con- Toronto, R. E. Walker, Vancouver, and Dr. Ray- siderable effort is also devoted to research on her- mond Gushue, St. John's. There were three new ring as well as on various shellfishes -- lobsters, appointments to the Board: D. F. Miller, Vancou- oysters, clams, scallops, etc. ver, B. C., Arthur Monroe, St. John's, Newfound- land, and Dr. J.M.R. Beveridge, Kingston, Ont. The Board's biological work in British Col- umbia, as elsewhere, is to a considerable degree Reports given by the directors of the Board's designed to meet Canada's obligations as a member stations and special research groups covered a wide of international commissions concerned with the range of investigations during the past year. The wise management of the world's food resources in establishments whose activities were reported on the sea. One of the most important tasks of the In- are: Biological Stations - Nanaimo, B.C. , London, ternational North Pacific Fisheries Commission is Ont., St. Andrews, N. B., St. John's, Nfld., and that of determining the origin of the salmon which Arctic Unit with headquarters at Montreal, P.Q.; occur on the high seas, a research project which Technological Stations - Vancouver, B.C., London, Canada share.s with the other two treaty countries, Ont., Grande Riviere, P. Q., and Halifax, N. S.; the U.S.A. and Japan. Special management studies Oceanographic Groups - Nanaimo, B.C., and St. on salmon also form part of the Board's work in Andrews, N. B.; Engineering Unit - St. John's, the Pacific area, together with research on herring Nfld. and various groundfishes. Research was begun in 1958 on the fur seals of the North Pacific Ocean as Biological investigations on the Atlantic Coast part of Canada's contribution to the work of the In- are concerned largely with the various groundfish ternational Commission for the North Pacific Fur species which represent the most important fish, in Seals.

-10- Investigations of methods for controlling the Ottawa, and Dr. T. W. M. Cameron. Comprising predacious sea lamprey populations of the Great the Central Advisory Committee are Dr. D.B. De- Lakes account for a major share of the Board's Lury, L.R. Omstead, Wheatley, Ont., Dr. J.M.R. work in Canada's fresh water fishing area. Another Beveridge, Kingston, Ont., and Dr. D. S. Rawson, important field of activity is concerned with fishery Saskatoon, Sask. Members of the Western Advisory management studies on Great Slave Lake. Committee are Martin K. Eriksen, Prince Rupert, Professor E.S. Pretious, Vancouver, Dr. Ian McT. Fisheries studies by the Board's scientists in Cowan, Vancouver, and D.F. Miller, Vancouver. the Arctic have been stepped up in recent years with the increase in attention that is generally being di- Changes in Research Board rected towards the Canadian north. This work in- Three members of the Fisheries Research volves surveys of selected areas to determine what fish stocks can be utilized by native populations and Board of Canada completed their current terms and those concerned with the opening up of the arctic retired from the Board on December 31, 1958. They region. Besides the fish species, other marine re- are Dr. Raymond Gushue, president and vice-chan- sources are also being investigated, such as seals, cellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. walrus and white whales, which are essential to the John's, Dr. J.R. Dymond, former head, Depart- everyday living of Eskimos. The studies cover ment of Zoology, University of Toronto and R.E. Walker, former president of B.C. Packers Limited, freshwater as well as marine areas. Vancouver, B.C. Dr. J. L. Kask, chairman of the The Fisheries Research Board's studies on Board, in speaking of the retiring members, had the basic and applied aspects of microbiology, bio- this to say: chemistry, chemistry, physics and nutritive values of marine organisms in relation to potentialities and "Dr. Gushue knows the fisheries situation in uses as fishery products, and on the processing and Newfoundland, in Canada and in the world as very care of these products, is conducted chiefly by tech- few men can, since he has been intimately associated with fisheries matters in the broad sense at all nological stations at Halifax, Grande Riviere and Vancouver. The Technological Unit in St. John's is these levels. He was the first Board member to involved chiefly with engineering aspects of the salt serve from Newfoundland since that island entered fish industry in Newfoundland. Confederation as Canada's tenth Province and his contribution toward integrating scientific pro- Two associated scientific groups of the Board grammes during these years of adjustment has been also held annual meetings. These were the com- very substantial. mittees on Biological Investigations and on Techno- logical Investigations. The Board also sponsored "Dr. Dymond and R. E. (Bob) Walker have the meeting of the Canadian Committee on Fresh- each served on the Board for 20 years and in spite water Fisheries Research. of heavy primary commitments they have attended practically all Board meetings during this long MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES period. They have seen and helped guide the development of this research organization from the time Election of officers for the Board's executive that its permanent staff across Canada numbered 41 and advisory Committees was held at the final ses- to the present, when nearly 500 scientists and sup- sion of the annual meeting. Members of the execu- porting staff are permanently employed. But their tive who, with the chairman, co-ordinate and im- contributions go far beyond membership on the plement the research programmes at the various Board. Dr. Dymond in his capacity of Professor of stations are: Dr. D.B. DeLury, Toronto, Ont., Zoology has had a hand in training many of the Dr. T. W. M. Cameron, St. Anne de Bellevue, Que., Board's senior and junior scientific employees, and Dr. P. E. Gagnon, Quebec , Que., C.J. Morrow, Mr. Walker, whose foresight and dynamic energy Lunenburg, N. S., and D. F. Mille r , Vancouver, helped build the highly competitive B.C. fishing in- B.C. Dr. Kask is chairman of the executive com- dustry, has done much to interpret science and the mittee and ex-officio members are Deputy Minister scientist to the fishing industry and vice versa, to of Fisheries George R. Clark and Chief Treasury their mutual advantage." Officer A.D. Wymbs, Honourary Treasurer. In the place of the retiring members the Min- The Eastern Advisory Committee has separ- ister of Fisheries, the Hon. J. Angus MacLean, has ate divisions dealing with biological and technolog- appointed Dr. J.M.R. Beveridge, Professor of Bio- ical investigations. The biological division is com- chemistry, Queen's University, King s ton, Ont., posed of W. L. Williamson, St. Andrews, N.B., Dr. Arthur H. Monroe, president, Fisheries Products F.R. Hayes, Halifax, N.S., and A.H. Monroe, St. Limited, St. John's, Newfoundland, and D.F. Mil- John's, Nfld. The technological division consists ler, director and executive assistant to the pres- of C.J. Morrow, Dr. P. E. Gagnon, C. E. Desourdy, ident, Canadian Fishing Company, Vancouver. Montreal, Que. , and Dr. Lucien Piche, Montreal, These men met for the first time with the Board at Que. The Arctic Advisory Committee is made up of its annual meeting, he ld in Ottawa January 5-7, Dr. A. L. Pritchard, Department of Fisheries, 1959. Departmental Officials at 10th Annual Meeting

Officials from the field areas and Ottawa headquarters who attended the 10th annual meeting of the Depart- ment of Fisheries in Ottawa, January 12-16. The meeting was opened by the Hon. J. Angus MacLean, Min- ister of Fisheries, and presided over by Deputy Minister George R. Clark. The Department's responsibil- ities, organization and policies were reviewed at general sessions and internal matters were dealt with by various committees. The international fisheries conventions to which Canada is signatory were also discussed.

The second booklet points out that it would be New Recipe Booklets difficult to find another food which lends itself so well to such a variety of appetizing dishes as Two attractive booklets, "Let's Serve Shell- canned salmon. The Department's home economists fish" and "Let's Serve Canned Salmon," have been present interesting information about the five vari- added to the list of fish cookery handbooks published eties (species) of canned salmon, all of which pro- by the federal Department of Fisheries. vide a wholesome "natural" product, and they offer The first of these concerns itself with six a selection of consumer tested recipes. Teachers leading commercial varieties of shellfish: lobster, of home economics and women's organizations may shrimp, crab, clams, oysters and scallops. It con- obtain, free of charge, the loan of a companion film- tains information about the forms in which they may strip, "Let's Serve Canned Salmon." Requests for be purchased together with instructions for cleaning the loan of this filmstrip should be addressed to the and cooking them. Also it contains a selection of Home Economics Section, Department of Fisheries, Ottawa. recipes which have been carefully tested by the home economists of the Department. Among the Both booklets are well illustrated by photo- recipes are old favourites as well as some which graphs and sketches. They are available in both are new. French and English.

-12- T cials, were representatives from the Royal Cana- Vessel, Gear Conference dian Navy, the National Research Council , the Canadian Maritime Commission and the Steamship Problems relating to the development and Inspection Branch of the Department of Transport. modernization of Canada's Atlantic coast fishing fleet were discussed in Ottawa January 21-23 by A further meeting of the sub-committee is to fisheries officials from the five Atlantic coast prov- be convened next fall. L.S. Bradbury, Director of inces and the federal Government. They were at- the Industrial Development Service of the federal tending the first meeting of a special Vessel and Department of Fisheries, acted as chairman of the Gear Sub-Committee of the Federal-Provincial At- January meeting. lantic Fisheries Committee. Members of the latter body decided to form the special sub-committee at a meeting held in Shediac, N.B., last October. The January meeting was arranged by the federal De- Fisheries Coin partment of Fisheries, and was opened by Deputy Minister of Fisheries G.R. Clark. Recognition of the part that the fisheries have played in Canada's development is reflected, among The sub-committee reviewed the programmes other ways, in this country's numismatic history. and activities of the various provinces and the fed- An example is a coin recently found by an officer of eral government in the field of vessel and fishing the federal Fisheries Department which reads on gear development. Reference was also made to ar- one side, "Fisheries and Agriculture," and on the rangements for Canadian representation at the Sec- other side, "One Cent, 1855." Reference to the ond World Fishing Boat Congress, to be held in Public Archives of Canada shows this coin to be one Rome, Italy, next April, under the auspices of the of the first used in Prince Edward Island. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The first Government coins using the decimal system were not issued in Canada until 1858, but a In attendance at the meeting, in addition to the private individual, James Duncan, brought out the federal and provincial government fisheries offi- above-mentioned cent in 1855.(Cont'd. on next page) Murals in Lunenburg Memorial Chamber

The above two photographs were taken in the Memorial Chamber of the new Fisheries Building in the exhibition grounds at Lunenburg, N.S. The building was opened last September at the 22nd Nova Scotia Fish- eries Exhibition and Fishermen's Reunion, before the Memorial Chamber was completed. The photograph at the left shows the Nova Scotia artist, Joseph Purcell, and his wife Tela, discussing a phase of Mr. Pur- cell's mural of Christ Calming the Waters, which is on the east wall of the chamber. The west wall will contain the names of deepsea fishermen of Lunenburg who have been lost at sea. Mrs. Purcell, herself an artist, is painting the names in Old English scroll, also the quotation at the base of the panels: "They that go down to the sea in ships do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep." The photograph at the right shows the pictorial story of the more than 100 Lunenburg ships which have been lost at sea. This also is the work of Mr. Purcell. The wings at each side carry the names of the vessels, each with a number. The numbers are repeated on the map in the centre panel, while around it, inlay type paintings tell the stories of ships and men. (Photos by Marion G. Rogers, Ottawa).

-13- According to the Canadian Numismatic Jour- token made its first appearance in 1840. The ob- nal, Vol. 3, No. 6, this piece may be considered verse recognizes the codfish with that inscription. unique in that it was termed a cent 16 years before The reverse side bears a plough, and the legend, Prince Edward Island adopted the decimal system. "Speed the Plough." It was the custom of early Canadian merchants to C NEWFOUNDLAND RIGHTS issue coins as their business cards. Mr. Duncan was probably a me r chant and the "Fisheries and Yet another coin is the "Fishery Rights" token A Agriculture" inscription on the coin is likely be- of 1860 which was issued to commemorate final cause such were the primary industries of Prince settlement of British, United States, and Newfound- Edward Island at that time, even as they are today. land claims to the use of coves and inlets for shelter and repairs, and the clarification of Newfoundland's Several tokens made their appearance in the rights in adjoining coastal waters. One side of this Maritimes back about 1840 which had some refer- coin had the date 1860 in a circle, surrounded by ence to fisheries as an important Canadian indus- "Fishery Rights for Newfoundland." It is a scarce try. For instance, the "Success to the Fisheries" item. Federal, Provincial Officials Discuss Inland Fisheries

Fishery officials of Canada's four inland provinces met with senior officers of the federal Department of Fisheries in Ottawa Jan. 28-29 to discuss problems of mutual interest. The provincial officials were wel- comed to the meeting by the Minister of Fisheries, the Hon. J. Angus MacLean, who drew attention to the fisheries as an important resource to the people of Canada, and to the fact that fish and fishery products were now being given more attention than ever before.

One of the major items discussed was the implementation of the specifications of the Canadian Gov- ernment Specifications Board governing the voluntary inspection of fish plants and fishery products, which comes into effect April 1. Deputy Minister of Fisheries G.R. Clark was chairman of the two-day meeting.

Those attending the conference are pictured above. Seated from left to right are: G. E. Couldwell, Director of Fisheries, Department of Natural Resources, Sask.; E.S. Huestis, Fish and Game Commis- sioner of Alberta; H.B. Watkins, Superintendent of Commercial Fisheries, Alberta; Mr. Clark; J.G. Cowan, Deputy Minister, Department of Mines and Natural Resources, Man.; Dr. W.J.K. Harkness, Chief of the Fish and Wildlife Division, Department of Lands and Forests, Ont., and B. Stephanson, Chief In- spector of Fisheries, Manitoba. G. W. Acorn, Solicitor of the Alberta Department of Lands and Forests, is shown third from the left in the rear row. Others standing are senior officers of the federal Depart- ment of Fisheries.

-14-

Fishery Figures For November SEAFISH: LANDED WEIGHT AND LANDED VALUE May Nov. 1957 May - Nov. 1958 '000 lbs $'000 '000 lbs $'000 CANADA - TOTAL 1, 424, 18 1 64, 995 1,473,041 84, 173

ATLANTIC COAST - TOTAL 1, 146, 895 39, 640 994, 410 38, 377 Cod 590,673 13,540 462,277 11,231 Haddock 58,038 1,898 43,444 1,777 Pollock, Hake & Cusk 57, 073 1, 076 68, 421 1, 229 Rosefish 42, 270 919 54, 941 1, 336 Halibut 4, 936 1, 101 4, 134 1, 053 Plaice & Other Flatfish 67,761 2,089 67,725 2, 130 Herring & Sardines 198, 384 2, 319 182, 167 2, 455 Mackerel 18, 364 710 15, 157 765 Swordfish 5, 179 1, 341 5, 182 1, 388 Salmon 2, 930 1, 023 3, 380 1, 211 Smelts 1, 374 185 1,856 271 Alewives 11,007 151 8,735 122 Other Fish 33,410 412 30,097 479 Lobsters 37,093 11,232 35,472 11,449 Clams & Quahaugs 5, 766 273 4, 316 204 Scallops 2,560 964 2,516 934 Other Shellfish 10, 077 407 4, 590 343

PACIFIC COAST - TOTAL 277, 286 25, 355 478, 631 45, 796 Pacific Cods 8,722 645 6,245 432 Halibut 22, 054 3, 611 22, 264 4, 603 Soles & Other Flatfish 5,447 304 5,436 277 Herring 101, 197 1, 679 262, 175 4, 345 Salmon 131,056 18,531 174,697 35,545 Other Fish 3,039 83 1,939 60 Shellfish 5, 771 502 5,875 534

BY PROVINCES British Columbia 277,286 25,355 478,631 45, 796 Nova Scotia 330,858 15,140 338,248 15, 471 New Brunswick 171,646 6,169 146, 40 1 6, 519 Prince Edward Island 38,008 3,320 36, 674 3, 488 Quebec 126, 551 3,408 98,664 3, 394 Newfoundland 479,832 11,603 374, 42 3 9, 505

MID-MONTH WHOLESALE PRICES, Nov. 1958 PRICES PER CWT. PAID TO FISHERMEN (Week ending Nov. 15th) Montreal Toront 1957 1958 Halifax Cod Steak 3.75 4.00 Market Cod 3.25 4.00 Cod fillets , Atl. fresh, unwrapped lb. .311 .350 Haddock 6.00 6.00 Cod fillets , Atl. frozen, cello 5's lb. .275 .297 Plaice 3.25 3.50 Cod fillets, smoked lb. . 328 . 370 Yarmouth Haddock fillets, fresh, unwrapped lb. .410 .447 Haddock 6..00 7.00 Herring kippered, Atl. lb. .248 .285 Black's Harbour Mackerel, frozen, round lb. . 188 .237 Sardines 2.00 2.00 Lobsters, canned, fancy case 48-is 39.42 41.66 St. John's, Nfld. Sardines, canned case 100-is 9.04 9.09 Cod 2.00 2.00-2.25 Halibut, frzn. , dr. lb. . 394 . 388 Haddock 3.00 Silverbright, frzn. , dr. lb. .443 . 437 Rosefish 2.00 2.00 Coho, frzn. , dr. lb. .623 .603 Vancouver Sockeye, canned, gr. A case 48-1s 2 1. 54 21.66 Ling Cod 9.00-10.00 10.00 Pink, canned, gr. A case 48-is 12.55 13.24 Gray Ccd 3.00- 5.00 3.50-6.00 Whitefish, fresh lb. 402 . 357 Soles 6.00- 9.00 8.00-9.00 Lake Trout, frozen lb. .441 .442 Salmon (Rdspg. ) 28. 00-38 .00* 27.00-35.00** * small ** mixed -15-

Fishery Figures For November

STOCKS AS AT END OF NOVEMBER CANADIAN EXPORT VALUE OF FISHERY PRODUCTS, MAY-OCTOBER 1957 19 58 (Value in Thousands of Dollars)

'000 lbs '000 lbs 1957 19 58 Total Exports 76,357 85,756 TOTAL - Frozen Fish, Canada 64,885 62, 455 By Markets: Frozen-Fresh, Sea Fish - Total 42, 586 43, 390 Unites States 56,517 62,259 Caribbean Area 8,632 8, 172 Cod Atlantic, fillets & blocks 7,628 4,898 Europe 9,507 13, 8 19 Haddock, fillets & blocks 1,422 2,049 Other Countries 1,701 1, 506 Rosefish, fillets & blocks 2,274 2,725 Flatfish (excl. Halibut), fillets & By Forms: blocks 2, 937 3, 106 Fresh and Frozen 48,649 55,115 Halibut Pacific, dressed & steaks 8,040 8,353 Whole or Dressed 17,119 22,225 Other Groundfish, dressed & steaks 3,569 2,233 Salmon, Pacific 3,656 7,259 Other Groundfish,fillets & blocks 3,533 2,567 Halibut, Pacific 2, 167 2,849 Salmon Pacific, dressed & steaks 6, 530 10, 598 Cod, Haddock, Herring Atlantic & Pacific 609 1,603 Pollock etc. 360 387 All Other Sea Fish, all forms 4,131 3,777 Swordfish 1,785 1,720 Shellfish 1, 913 1, 481 Other Seafish 2, 504 2,327 Whitefish 2,771 2,963 Frozen - Fresh, Inland Fish - Total 7,898 8,653 Pickerel 1,485 1,635 Other freshwater Perch, round or dressed 436 637 fish,n.o.p. 2,391 3,085 Pickerel (Yellow), fillets 711 378 Fillets 19, 317 21,240 Sauger, round or dressed 216 223 Cod, Atlantic 7, 133 8,700 Tullibee, round or dressed 488 453 Haddock 2,896 1,677 Whitefish, round or dressed 2,017 1, 572 Rosefish, Hake, Whitefish, fillets 721 1,036 Pollock, etc. 1, 379 2,427 Other, all forms 3,309 4,354 Flatfish 2,924 3,279 Pickerel 2,228 1,655 Frozen - Smoked Fish - Total 2, 639 1, 582 Other 2,757 3, 502 Shellfish 12,213 11,650 Cod Atlantic 1,235 517 Lobster(Alive&Meat)10, 918 10,631 Sea Herring, kippers 823 785 Other 1,295 1,019 Other, all forms 581 280 Cured 11,840 10,942 Frozen for Bait and Animal Feed 11,762 8,830 Smoked 679 7 30 Herring 410 523 Salted and Pickled Fish, Atl. Coast Other 269 207 Salted, Wet or Dried 9,368 8,803 Wet-Salted - Total 49,770 33,370 Cod 8,101 7,607 Cod 39,791 2 1, 657 Other 1,267 1, 196 Other 9,979 11,713 Pickled 1,793 1,409 Dried - Total 33,063 20,944 Herring 939 834 Cod 31,891 19,504 Mackerel 512 255 Other 1,172 1,440 Other 342 320 Boneless - Total 581 661 Cod 562 555 Canned 10,948 15,856 Other 19 106 Salmon, Pacific 7,842 12,861 Pickled - Total (barrels) 33,092 25,860 Sardines 1,110 1,314 Herring 20,661 6,039 Lobster 1,754 1,472 Mackerel 2, 343 8, 181 Other 242 209 Alewives 8,448 11,540 Turbot 1, 640 100 Miscellaneous 4,920 3,843 Meal 2,538 1,450 Bloaters ( 18 lb boxes) 241, 518 206, 312 Oil 391 277 Boneless Herring( 10 lb boxes) 4,948 5,051 Other 1,991 2,116

-16- Fisheries News From Abroad The Mexican Market for Fish Mexico's fishing industry has never been a exclusively for co-operatives of the entire fishery major one, although its coastal waters are rich in for such remunerative species as spiny lobsters, marine life. Fishing, in fact, accounts for less than oysters and shrimp. At present, about one-third of one per cent of the national income. Nor has fish Mexico's 30,000 fishermen, belonging to some 150 been a staple in the Mexican diet; the average per co-operatives, account for more than half the capita consumption of less than five pounds a fish a domestic catch. year is one of the lowest in Latin America. The co-operatives have played a significant None the less, fishing is regarded as an im- role in the modernization of the industry. Govern- portant activity for three reasons. The first is the ment funds made available through the co-operative substantial government revenues obtained from bank and government institutions have been chan- taxes on domestic and foreign fishermen, the second nelled to the fishermen through the co-operatives. the employment that fishing provides in the coastal This money has been used to improve boats, gear areas, and the third the relatively large amount of and processing facilities. dollars earned by fisheries exports to the United States. In 1957, exports of fish products had an ex- The greater interest in the fisheries and the port processed value of almost $24 million (U.S.); initial success of the March to the Sea programme 90 per cent of these exports. consisted of shrimp, is indicated by production figures on all fisheries and nearly all of this went to the United States. products in recent years. These rose from 70,500 metric tons in 1940 to 170,000 tons in 1956. Prob- The federal Government of Mexico, in which ably the most important Government action for the almost complete control of the fisheries is vested., development of the fishing industry was the 1939 is making major efforts to exploit the marine re- legislation that prohibited the operation of foreign sources. It supervises the industry carefully and boats in the shrimp fishery. Since that time the constantly; commercial fishing can only be carried shrimp fishery has led the industry not only in the on with a government permit or c on cessi on and value of the catch but also in the introduction of new more than 50 per cent of the investment in fisheries techniques and equipment. At present shrimp pro- must be Mexican-controlled. duction (1956 value to the fishermen -- $9. 1 million U.S.), accounts for about 17 per cent of the total There is some reason for such restrictions. landings, In the past the Government granted permits to foreign vessels as a means of raising revenue. Most The market for fish within Mexico has long of these went to U.S. boats from California ports, been conditioned by the serious lack of communica- fishing for tuna in Pacific waters off the Mexican tion between the fishing centres and the large con- coast. These American boats are still a major fac- centration of population in the central highlands. tor in the industry. In 1954, for example, 50 per Problems of distribution and handling have also cent of the total value of the catch was taken by contributed to high cost, with the result that fish U.S. vessels and landed at U.S. ports for process- has generally been priced out of the mass market. ing and sale. In consequence, imports of fish are also small.

To promote local interest in the fisheries, It should not be assumed, however, that the the Government instituted six years ago a long-term market will remain restricted. At present Mexico programme known as the "March to the Sea." The suffers from a national nutrition problem which in- authorities have pushed port development, the im- cludes general shortages of some basic foodstuffs provement of communications between the coast and and an insufficiency of high-protein foods. More the interior, the drainage and settlement of some and more, official attention is being given to the coastal lands, shipbuilding, and the development of fisheries as a means of filling these needs and it a more modern navy, merchant marine and fishing seems likely that more efficient production, im- fleet. It is estimated that during this period $60 provements in transportation, and better distribu- million (U.S.) has been spent on the programme. tion facilities will lead to lower prices, wider avail- ability and greater consumption of fish. Important results have been obtained through the financing and the encouragement of fishing co- In such a situation, opportunities should de- operatives. These have been granted many special velop for larger sales of Canadian fish. At present privileges, including priority in obtaining fishing Canadian sales, limited to small quantities of sal- concessions, tax exemptions, and the reservation mon and canned sardines, amount to only about 1.4

-17- per cent of total imports. It should be possible to there is some interest among dealers in obtaining increase this percentage and there appear to be quotations direct from Canada if transportation markets for the following: problems can be solved.

Skinless and boneless salt cod fillets -- About Canned fish -- Although Mexican regulations 800,000 pounds, worth $270,000 (U.S.) were im- tend to restrict the import of canned fish, many ported during 1957, almost all from Norway. Buy- foreign products are being sold in the country. In- ers would like to receive quotations from Canadian quiries have been received during recent months supplier s but stress that these must be for fish for Canadian canned salmon and canned lobster. comparable in quality to the Norwegian product. Although there is some market for half-kilo and Fishmeal -- Improved agricultural techniques kilo packages (roughly one and two pounds), princi- call for scientifically balanced livestock and poultry pal demand is for skinless and bone less fillets feeds and the growing stock-feed industry is inter- averaging 35 to 40 inches in length, packed in 40- ested in obtaining quotations on Canadian fishmeal. pound flat wooden boxes. The fish must be clean, Current supplies are being received from Mexican of good quality, and uniform in colour and size. fish-processing plants and from South America.

Fresh frozen fish -- Some tentative steps are It appears that fish will eventually form a being taken toward the distribution and sale of fro- more important part of the Mexican diet and al- zen fish. Already some frozen cod and haddock though the domestic fishing industry will increase fillets and frozen scallops ma r k e d "Product of its exploitation of Mexican marine resources, op- Canada" are being sold in Mexico. So far, these portunities for a larger volume of imports should have been imported through Texas wholesalers but develop.

Atomic Energy and World Fisheries Development

Atomic energy, particularly through the use Such a programme calls for the comprehen- of radioisotopes and radiation in research, will play sive investigation of the resources and in such re- an increasingly important part in the development of search radioisotopes can be of particular help "in the world fishery resources, states Dr. R.A. Silow, measuring the basic production of water areas, in Chief of the Atomic Energy Branch of the Food and following the passage of nutrient material through Agriculture Organization of the Unite d Nations , the successive links of the food chains of fish of Rome, Italy. economic value to man, and in various other parts of the programme." Dr. Silow makes this prediction in a report on "The Potential Contribution of Atomic Energy to Dr. Silow adds that the success of such re- Development in Agriculture and Related Industries", search "will permit a better planning of fishing op- just pub li shed by FAO in English, French and erations" and more efficient use of resources. Spanish. Dr. Silow's report covers power applica- tions, the use of radiation in food preservation and Elsewhere in the report, Dr. Silow points out processing and in plant breeding, the value of radi- that the application of nuclear-derived power could oisotopes in research and the significance of be of considerable significance to the fishing indus- research to the development of agriculture and re- try, particularly "for use in mother and factory lated industries, which, of course, include fisher- vessels of fishing and whaling fleets operating over ies. long periods at great distances from their bases, especially in the Antarctic." Referring to radioisotopes, Dr. Silow says that the use of them can "accelerate and enhance the He points out that present power plant s in contributions of research to the development fishing boats, including fuel tanks, occupy about 40 of world fisheries." He points out that while about per cent of the available space on board. The in- three-quarters of the world's surface is occupied troduction of small nuclear propulsion plants could by water, it provides less than two per cent of the radically change the situation. "The size of the world's food supplies, but that this two per cent vessel could be decreased, or its speed increased, represents about 10 per cent of the animal protein or the fish-hold space or fish-processing space in- consumed. "Every effort should therefore be made creased for the same sized hull," reports Dr. to increase world fish production," Dr. Silow de- Silow. clares. "This can be achieved by extension and in- tensification of current fishing operations, by im- While his report deals largely with agricul- proved management of those operations and by ef- ture, it is of considerable interest to all engaged in fecting advantageous changes in the fisheries re- fisheries. Copies of the report are available on resources themselves." quest to FAO, Rome.

-18- Current Reading

"Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of ue of landings. Moreover, the shrimp processing Canada," Vol. 15, Nos. 5 and 6. (Available from indus t r ie s and distributive channe 1 s have also the Queen's Printer, Ottawa. Subscription to an- greatly expanded their facilities and the volume and nual volume of six bi-monthly issues, post-paid, variety of shrimp products reaching the national Canada , the United States and Mexico, $5. 00. market during the past decade. Single issue s $1.50. To other countries, post-paid, $6.00 and $1.75). This report provides a comprehensive exam- ination of the shrimping grounds, vessel construc- The year 1958 marked the Fiftieth Anniver- tion, fishing operations, fishing costs, processing sary of the founding of two of the oldest research plant efficiency, processing costs, trends in dis- stations of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada tribution, packaging, storing, shipping, per capita -- the Biological Station, St. Andrews, New Bruns- consumption, prices, wholesaling, retailing, me r - wick, and the Biological Station, Nanaimo, British chandising and consumer preferences. Volume I, Columbia. Two issues of the Journal of the Fish- in five chapters, deals with the domestic supply, eries Research Board are commemorating the oc- the agents of production, fishing operations, pro- casion. duction costs, and utilization and processing.

Issue 5 of Volume 15 is devoted to the Nanai- mo Station, and Issue 6 to that at St. Andrews. No. 5 consists exclusively of contributions from present "The Biology of the Ringed Seal in the Eastern . or former members of the staff and volunteer in- Canadian Arctic," by I.A. McLaren, (Published by vestigators at the Nanaimo Station, the first article the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Obtain- being an illustrated account of its history and pres- able from the Queen's Printer, Ottawa. $1.00). ent activities, prepared by its Director , Dr. A. W. H. Needler. For the second article , the The ringed seal ("Phoca hispida Schreber") senior surviving Director of the Station, Dr. W.A. is a widely ranging hair seal inhabiting arctic and Clemens, was asked to describe informally some of subarctic waters of the entire northern hemisphere. the background of important events which occurred In North American waters it is found from the Gulf during his term of office, from 1924 to 1940. His of St. Lawrence across the Canadian arctic to the remarks provide many interesting sidelights on the Bering Sea. most formative period in the Station's history. The ringed seal is exploited by most of the The second of the two commemorative issues, Eskimo groups inhabiting the Canadian Arctic. In devoted to the St. Andrews Station, consists ex- some areas it contributes much of the food, clothing clusively of contributions from present or former and fuel to the Eskimo welfare and is, in fact, the members of the staff of that Station and their colla- backbone of the native economy. In recent years borators. The first article in this issue also is an some concern has been felt over the utilization of illustrated account of the history and present activ- arctic sea mammal stocks. ities of the Station, prepared by its Director, Dr. J.L. Hart. This paper deals with some basic features of the biology of the ringed seal in the eastern Cana- Both historical accounts have been published dian Arctic. E c on o mi c factors are not treated in booklet form. directly, but the author expresses the hope that some of the biological findings, particularly the factors of distribution, will be of assistance in the management of the species as a valuable resource "Survey of the United States Shrimp Indus- in the Canadian north. try," Vol. 1. (Special Scientific Report -- Fish- eries No. 277, United States Fish and Wildlife Serv- The development of an accurate ageing tech- ice, Washington, b. c. ). nique has stimulated research on seals in recent years. This technique has not hitherto been applied Discovery of new fishing grounds, expanding to the ringed seal and the author says it was of great markets, and the increase in the size of the U.S. value in this study. shrimp fleet have contributed to the dramatic growth of the shrimp industry within the past dec- The application of the ageing method to the ade. study of reproduction and patterns of distribution constitutes the core of the work. Two phases of the Currently, the shrimp f i she r y is the most study, parasitology and taxonomy, are not included important in the United States measured by the val- in this paper and will be published at a future date.

-19- THE ROSEFISH is found in abundance off Canada's east coast. The Department of Fisheries reports that exploratory fishing by the Fisheries Research Board of Canada indicates still greater stocks to the north. A rose is a bream is a perch— THE ROSEFISH, variously called Red Bream and Ocean Perch, was,

• .until recent years, of little or no commercial or food value. Turning point in its importance came with advancements'in fish freezing and handling. The rosefish were automatically scaled and filleted, then quick frozen and sent to market as Ocean Perch. Their mild flavour and relatively low price won them instant popularity. At the same time the growth of otter trawling with huge, open- mouthed nets made the catching of rosefish in large quantities a commercial possibility. The Fisheries Research Board of Canada, the Department's scientific arm, has discovered tinny of the important grounds which are being fished today and others still untapped. The rosefish typifies the role —one ofmany—that the Department plays in developing Canada's Virtually all the rosefish catch is filleted and vast And valuable fish resources. quick frozen. The by-products are made into high-vitamin-content meal and oil.

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES OTTAWA CANADA

HON. J. ANGUS MACLEAN, M.P., MINISTER GEORGE R, CLARK, DEPUTY MINISTER