B.C. LUMBER WORKER FISHERMEN'S CO-OP FEDERATION An $8,000,000 for. of Workers’ Co-operation By G. D. Ferg, Local 1-357, IWA Brothers, this is a fish story! About the biggest fish story the writer has ever heard. It is the story of thousands of West Coast fishermen and their families being lifted from debt and distress to independence and security. This they have achieved through co-operative effort. It all began about 15 years ago, when private fish operators con- trolled the West Coast fishing in- dustry. At that time many fishermen did not know what it was to be out of debt and they had no con- trol over prices for their prod- uets. SALMON ARM BUSINESS GUIDE TAVERN INN Cafe and Bus Terminal — Quality Foods — Sports HQ of the is Scenic Shuswap Area Box 178 FRONT ST. GROCERY “Smiling Service” Specialist In FRUITS and VEGETABLES Phone 31 Phone 74 SALMON ARM FARMERS EXCHANGE Manufacturers of BOX SHOOK and LUMBER RETAIL LUMBER and BUILDING SUPPLIES FORD — MONARCH Ford Trucks and Tractors Dearborn Equipment DEARBORN MOTORS SALMON ARM LIMITED HUNTER’S PHARMACY Complete Drug Store Service Veterinary Supplies our Specialty PHONE 100 SALMON ARM MACHINE SHOP FARM, LOGGING AND MILL MACHINE REPAIRS McCulloch Chainsaw — Automotive Machine Work It was out of this condition that the Fishermen’s Co-opera- tives, the Prince Rupert, the Kyu- quot, the Sointula, the Massett, and the United Fishermen’s Co-op were born. These co-ops which are today a major controlling fac- tor in the marketing of fish and fish products, were the outcome of need and despair. The first fishermen’s co-ops worked against great odds with little or no funds. They combed the beaches for logs and sunken anchor chains, with which to build floats. They delivered their fish to their co-ops without ini- tial payment and tightened their belts until their packer returned with the proceeds from the sale of their fish. In these early days of co-op- eration, fish was actually auc- tioned off to local buyers and sold by the packer load. The money received was taken back to the fishermen, where it was distributed after the cost of han- dling had been deducted. Since this beginning, what has happened to the: economic life of some 8,000 West Coast Co-opera- tive fishermen is nothing short of a revolution. Today the fishermen in the previously mentioned Co-ops and in the Fishermen’s Co-operative Federation, have a streamlined modern and efficient marketing service, which is owned and con- trolled by the fishermen them- selves, They buy their own fishing sup- plies, gas, oil, groceries, work- clothes, indeed almost all of their requirements from their own Co- operative Stores at Prince Rupert, ;Kyuquot, Winter Harbour, Na- jnaimo, Tofino, Ucluelet, Bamfield, Sointula, Old and New Massett, Egmont, and at the other many fish camps along the coast. Their savings and credit re- uirements are taken care of by their own credit unions, the main ones being the Fraser and Gulf, the Prince Rupert, and the West Coast Credit Union. Some 400 or more have their boats insured in their own Co- operative Marine Insurance Co. Many are also members of the Credit Union and Co-operative Health Service, which takes care of doctors’ bills, when medical aid is required. It was not till 1941 that Co-op fish was sold any other way than by the packer load, to local buy- ers. Last year, 1948,-they sold $7,- 580,000 worth of fish and fish products to some 1,100 customers scattered throughout the North American continent. The Fishermen’s Co-operative Federation, the, central sales agency for all West Coast Fisher- men Co-ops, has sales representa- tives in all the principal Cana- dian cities. They have sales offi- ces in New York, Boston, Chi- cago, and other American cities. So efficient is their service that they have been requested by gov- ernments of other countries to market their fish products for them. This, of course, they could not do, as the Fishermen’s Co- op could not be sure that the total returns would be made to the Producers of these various coun- ries. In the years since 1941, these fishermen have built three large cold storage plants, fish liver pro- cessing plants, six packers, and all the other machinery and equipment necessary for storing, processing and transporting fish and fish products. All these assets, with inventory assets, etc., amounting to $5,400,- 000 are owned and controlled by the fishermen themselves. (To be continued next issue) Quiz Answers Answers to Quiz on, Safety Page. 1. Any bandsaw found to have developed a crack, the depth of which is not greater than one- tenth the width of the saw, shall be discontinued from service un- less development of the crack is arrested by centre-punching or other effective means. 2. Aisles for one-way traffic shall be not less than the width of the widest vehicles or load, plus three feet. For traffic, it is twice this width, rug, three feet. Lines . should be painted on the floor to mark side aisles. : 8. The speed of carriages shall not exceed thirty-four (84) strokes per minute. CREDIT UNION ASSETS CLIMB In B.C., the Credit Union movement has taken a phenom- enal jump in members and assets within the past year. According to officials here, total assets grew from 4,000,000 to $8,- 000,000 in 1948, and are expected to climb close to $11,000,000 by 1950. Reason for this increase is be lieved to be due to the tightening" up of bank credit, which induces people to look for other sources. B.C. Credit Unionist. KERSTEN’S & GOWANLOCK TIRE LIMITED Tire Recapping, Repairing and Balancing Wheels 865 Columbia St. Phone: N.W. 4466 MAILEARDVILEE Supports the IWA ‘Safety Campaign and Recognizes that “SAFETY IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS” (Please Patronize These Merchants Who Are Helping to Support Our Safety Campaign) GIRARD’S GROCERY Confectionery, Meat, Fruit & Vegetables 901 Brunette Street Phone 2025 MAILLARDVILLE RECREATION CENTRE HENNY’S GRILL (In Sam’s Theatre) * 931 Brunette Street 2 DRESS SHOPS OF DISTINCTION at the Service of IW A Clients LA PETITE SHOP, MAILLARDVILLE MODE DRESS SHOP, 424 East Columbia St. New Westminster, B. C. “ THRIFT MARKET (Established 1925) General Food Store and Post Office Phone: 2238 1235 Brunette Street H. J. C. Thrife Frank R. Thrift MONTREAL MAIL ORDER HOUSE Complete Home Furnishings 906 Brunette Street Phone: 1580-L-1 DE LUXE COFFEE BAR 900 Brunette Street Maillardville STOCKLEY’S SERVICE 800 Brunette St. New Westminster Phone 913-L-3 FRASER MILLS TAXI & TRIANGLE SERVICE (AI Poirier, Proprietor) Blue Mountain and Brunette Street — Phone 2603 “Quick, Courteous 24-Hour Service” Congratulations and further success to THEIR "SAFETY FIRST” CAMPAIGN « WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF A FRIEND MORGEN’S GROCERY STORE 805 Brunette St. New Westminster, B.C. EMILE PLANTE’S WOODWORKING SHOP “Everything in the Woodworking Line’ 800 Brunette St. New Westminster, B. C, For Your Work Boots CHERAMY’S SHOE STORE & REPAIR 904a Brunette Street LINDY’S SERVICE Lougheed Highway at Bernatchey Street “Friendly Service? Unity Service Station CARS FOR SALE 702 Brunette Street Phone 2865-R-1 THOMAS & BRANDON Sporting Goods 934 Brunette Street New Westminster, B.C. ‘KEN TORGALSON Bulldozing 704 Brunette St. New Westminster, B.C. M BOB’S CAFE Home Cooked Meals Fish and Chips 932 Brunette St. Phone 3173 New Westminster, B.C. * MAILLARDVILLE Featuring Marshall-Wells Paints - Coleman Heaters i and Floor Furnaces Plumbing Fixtures and Supplies 929 Brunette Street New Westminster, B. C. HARDWARE Phone 913-R-2 Best Wishes For A SUCCESSFUL SAFETY CAMPAIGN With the Compliments of z A FRIEND For two-way