Item AAAB2221 - John Turner interview : [Stevenson, 1976]

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): John Turner : tallyman and boat rigger RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1976-03-22 SUMMARY: John Turner came to B.C. from Scotland in 1920. Worked at Fraser Saw Mill, then got a job with the Union Steamship Co. on the "Camosun" in 1922. Went to work at Wadhams Cannery as a fireman for the first year. Then he went to Imperial Cannery to help with the fall fishing. He packed fish from Kitsilano to the Gulf of Georgia Plant. There was a big Indian population which lived in the shacks on the dyke close to the cannery. During the season, White people lived in better and more permanent houses away from the water. The Japanese also lived on the water in company houses. Bunk houses for the Chinese men who were fed only two meals a day. They got mostly rice and dried fish and they were "tickled to death" to be working in these conditions. They worked for the C.P.R. in the winter. The Indians were only there for the summer season. The Japanese were permanent residents. Discrepancy of wages according to race. Retired at age 75 the head rigger at Canadian Fish Co. Describes the machine that cuts the heads off of salmon. During the Depression one year he got only 6 weeks of work. Discusses pulp mill at Swanson Bay.