4 ~ Wednesday, April 22, 1987 - North Shore News Bob Hunter @ strictly personal ® FISHING is politics. When you drop a line or a net or a trap or throw a spear, for that matter, into the water, you are involved in one of the most basic of political acts. That is, whose fish anyway? The lowly fish probably has had more influence on human events than any other creature, big or small. The ownership of fish has plagued us since the beginning of history, when primitive clans clashed in the middle of small streams. At the very start, British land law—otherwise a model for the world—failed to come to terms with the question: Who owns the Commons? As far as the sea was concern- ed, even the British threw their hands in the air and wrote it off as being open sesame. Lovely as it was, Hugo Grotius’s Law of the Sea, pro- mulgated nearly 400 years ago, left the ocean naked to be gang- raped at will forever. Hardly anything has changed over the years, except that today there are more people than ever squabbling over dwindling resources in the sea. There are any number of in- ternational committees set up to oversee one ocean resource after another, but they have been dominated mainly by the various industries involved so far. ° Beyond the 200-mile limit, it is still, all mainly chaos. lt sounds like bad ecological science fiction, but it is the reality we live with in our time. Strange bedfellows emerge. Locally, we sce Terry Jacks, the West Van District Council, and Doug Collins, for God's sake, on the same side, all urging that Horseshoe Bay be closed to commercial crab and prawn fish- ing boats. By the way, Doug, I generally agree with the idea of local con- trol. It should apply to municipalities as much as applies to Indian reserves. But I also sympathize with the working fisherman out there lay- ing his nets or traps or hooking his trolling lines. There’s a lot of Stress involved in keeping a boat functioning at sea. | They do work. Hard. And if F they can’t do it all year, that’s not some scam to pull UI. It’s just plain suicide to try to go out is that fishing during the winter. People living in West and North Van, and particularly people in. Deep Cove, tend to forget just how rough it is out there between the beginning of November and the end of May. We live in such a sheltered cor- ner. For the commercial fisherman who has to venture further than Howe Sound, there is risk. Lots of risk. This coast, with its com- bination of weather, tides and rocks, is one of the deadliest shorelines in the world. I sympathize with the fish- erman because I admire his or her guis. I admire their spirit of independence. That’s the romantic side. The downside is that fisheries everywhere are in desperate shape, and commercial fishermen are the main culprits, not the sol- itary guy picking at his snarled reel. The alarm was sounded by Rachel Carson in the late 50s— nearly a generation ago. And still the ocean continues to be pillaged while we sit here worrying about | the price of tea in Ottawa. When it comes to fishing, there is a pitched battle going on and we alt have to take sides. The struggle for control of the | fishery is a political exercise. In the absence of agreement on high, we are forced to fight with one another for our little share. [ Left to its own devices, the | fisheries department—run from a distant somewhat foreign capi- tal—is slow to act. The idea that the interests of sportsmen are somchow sacred, compared to the rights of work- ing fi shermen, gets my back up. Yet it is 2 power struggle and | who wins is usually determined by whoever organizes best. I like crab fishing myself. It is a recreation, for sure. Except that we all like the taste of fresh crab and why should some guy be out there putting down a hundred traps to my one? Surely his in- terests aren’t any more sacred than mine, either. Keep pushing, Terry. If locals § can’t shake themelves out of their apathy enough to save what’s left of a bio-system in Horseshoe Bay, nobody’s going to do it for them. As for the fishermen, don’t worry. They’ll push back. They're not wimps. Firewood sales aid Rick Hansen | NORTH VANCOUVER City employees are set to hold the first of four firewood sales this weekend to help raise money for Rick Hansen’s Man in Motion World Tour. City engineer Alan Phillips said last week 60 city volunteers have been busy collecting and cutting lengths of the wood from city land-clearing projects. Workers, using donated city equipment, hope to raise $2,000 from each sale for the fund for spinal cord research. ‘‘That’ll be our target figure,’’ he said. Coming from city land-clearing projects at Tempe Heights, Heywood Park and Wagg Creek Park, the mostly Alder firewood is perfect for a heaithy blaze. Prices range from $40 for a pick-up truck load to $10 for a car trunk load. With five loading areas, Phillips hopes to keep the loading going smoothly, ‘‘to have a fairly quick operation cf sale’’ and eliminate annoying waits. Other sales are set for May 23 and 24 at Wagg Creek Park near 18th and Jones; Sept. 12 and 13 at Tempe Heights Park; and Oct. {7 and 18 at Cloverly School. The fall sales come just when the weather is turning cold. ‘‘That’ll be after the summer vacation time when people are looking at some cold, wet days.”’ This weekend's April 25 and 26 sale is set to run from 10 a.m. to 4 p-m. at Heywooc Park. Signs will be posted directing buyers to the sale parking lot. LUXURY BER GYATIONS _ BAT HROOMS and KOETCHENS —— TS URCN Oe ae wl Cancer line helps From page 3 name drop instead, which is very expensive, and it's not the same as making eye contact,”’ she said. (__ Cabinets. & Marble Vanities | The North Vancouver unit has about 1,300 volunteers, including the Boy Scouts and other groups, estimates Barbara Kessel, the campaign unit's chairman, nig ee =~ Showroom 153 W. 3rd ‘ ot - be o “Estimates” 987-3055 Volunteers canvass for dona- tions, provide emotional support to cancer victims and staff the of- fices and information phone lines. The cancer line offers informa- tion about the disease, and the trained volunteers can help allay anxieties, or direct callers to sup- port services. The local cancer line is 736-2323, and the toll-free number is 1-800- 663-4242. GENEROUSLY WHEN CANVASSERS CALL 50% “OFF ALL. : Sunworthy & Desart § Instore Wallcovering 2 “Book price. Patterns may vary from illustrations, 30% OFF* ALL | New Spring Arrivals. *Book price. ERR RSF ERS NG AA Children’s & Kitchen Wailpaper Books “Book price. Instore only. Matching fabrics not.included. 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