leaky bo Neil Thompson Contributing Columnist AM I missing something? The government is con: sidering giving our salmon fishermen a few Bundred mil- lion because: i the fishermen have nearly fished out some salmon runs; @ the Departinent of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has mismanaged the resouree: the forest industry and others have degraded many streams and spawning beds; 83% of B.C. streams are clearcut to the banks. Now like the buffalo, the passenger pigeon and the Arlantic cod, our coho is, after 19 years of decline, on the brink of extinction. Did we pay the butfalo hunters after they had killed : buffalo? Why should ens now have to pay quit-money to fishermen who have lived the fat cat bite for years built on the exelu- sive right to fish some of our magnificent salmon species to near exonction? Why sheuld these fisher- men get a bailout and not leaky condo owners? The only reason is that the fishing lobby is powerful and hus- dreds of millions of our dol- lars are distributed among 4,400 fishermen. B.C. does not dircetly get one penny from commercial fishermen, They neither plant, till, sow, nor fertilize; they merely reap our fish. The granting, of exclusive fishing privilege was not free enterprise; it was not capital- ism. It was like the kings of old granting special favours to the favoured few. Under free enterprise any- body should be able to go commercial salmon fishing, and have the right to make big money or to go broke, whatever fortune dictates. Fishermen who originally got licences for a $25 filing fee now trade them for over $100,000. Thar is the worth of being 2 member of this exclusive little club, who now wants me, and vou, to buy them out now that the bloom is off the rose. Restricting the number of boats was never to conserve salmon or to reduce the catch, The myth was fostered and perpetuated to keep extracting the bribe buy- backs, thus paying the tisher- men exiting the industry, and at the same time making it more lucrative for those left, and increasing the value of their exclusive privilege. Conservation of salmon is achieved by “closure” of all fishing to allow adequate “escapemenct” to the spawn- ing beds. A million fish boats would not reduce the num- ber of salmon if there was closure for all but one hour per week. Restricting licences was done solely to make the tish- ery easier to administrate by the government. The DFO has proved many omes thar itis inept and inefficient Not one personan the NEO has been chastised, pushed or tired tor allow ing the annihiladon of the Atlantic cod. Sport fishermen take only Sw othe salmon catch ver pay 83% of the indireer bene fits trom the salmon fishery. The 96% caught by the commercial fishermen pro duce 15% of the benetits. A child would decide thar com mercial fishing should be banned. [tis not cost etfee tive. A full-scale sports fishery, which at maximum would take only a small traction of the commercial catch, would attract tourists by the tens of thousands front around che world. Another brilliant decision by the DFO was to allow the fishing of herring — the basic start of the food chain for salmon, seals and many other fish. This is done so the eggs can be shipped to Japan as a delicacy, and indi- rectly so these eggs cannot hatch and produce more fish. The other part of the her- ring ts ground up for fertiliz- eror dog food. Lee's remember the DFO allowing a whaling station on Texada island which success: fully eradicated all whales in the straits and inside passage. Also witness the pilchard canneries on Nanaimo’s Neweastle island which man- aged this resource into extinction, Witnessing the actions of the DFO is nota pretty sight. And another brilliant political decision: John Dictenbaker gave self employed salmon fishermen, who may work 60 days a year, the right to go on unemployment insurance for the rest of the year. What other group of sca- sonal self-employed workers can get Uf for nine months of the year? Commercial fishermen now want us to buy them out to conserve the resource. The two previous buybacks accomplished nethiig except tecanch this small group at the expense of the rest of us Why doesn’t the gover ment ban out tailed restau rants, poor halls, small tarnar. and dance hall operators whe are gong broke? Phe NDP wants a pavart toon) segrient of BoC. ar the eapense or al taapayers, Asa citer and part emvuner of the renane resource Psat this not one conte tax monsy shoukd po to barkag out che ishermen. AM resources, Concerns, pavirents and considerations she vtoward the preser- Vato wth and recovery wT amir CISRETY FosOHTee. > Neil The EMIpNOn WEES fram West Vaneconver, Alderwood Seafood Grill 29 Folkestone Way, West Vancouver, BC Reservations: 926-3212 INVITES YOU AND & GUEST TO ENJOY ONE COMPLIMENTARY DINNER ENTREE WHEN A SECOND DINNER ENTREE OF EQUAL OR GREATER VALUE IS PURCHASED. EXPIRES * MAX 2 COUPONS PER TABLE ° VALID ANY DAY NOVEMBER * ert &t SAT SEATINGS BEFORE 6:30 PM OR AFTER 9:G0 PM » Complete range of mutual funds, including Trimark, Fidelity, Dynamic and Templeton » Full brokerage services through our investment firm, 4 ° ; Credential Securities Inc. » Premium tiered rates guaranteed for 7 years » Cashable any time after first G0 days without penalty » RRSP and RRIF eligible » Minimum deposit $100 FOCUS ON YOUR FINANCIAL SECURITY with sound investments from NSCU. > Based on the TSE 100 or global market index performance » Play the market with no risk to your principal Call us at 713-3000 or toll-free at 1-888-713-NSCU (6728), drop into your nearest branch or visit our new web site at www.necu.ca. We have all your financial solutions. You Belong Here NORTH SHORE Cae CREDIT UNION Mutual funds and other secunties are offered through Credential Secures Inc., a subsiciary of Credit Union Central of Canada. Credential Securities makes its services available at branches of participating credit unions and associated financial services organizations. Cash balances and secunties so‘d, unless you are informed to the contrary with respect to a specific security, are not guarenteed and are not insured by any government or other deposit insurer which insures deposits in credit unions. important information about @ sutual fund 1s contained in its simplified prospectus. Plaase obtain a copy from Credential Securities and read it carefully before investing. Unit/share vaiue and investment returns will fluctuate. Credential Securities is a member of CIPF_