Item AAAB2282 - Bob Atchison interview

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Title proper

Bob Atchison interview

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  • sound recording

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  • Source of title proper: Supplied title based on item contents.

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AAAB2282

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Date(s)

  • 1976-03-05 [date recorded] (Creation)

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Custodial history

The Richmond Arts Centre oral history collection comprises two sets of tapes that were loaned to the Provincial Archives of British Columbia for copying in 1973 and 1976 respectively. The first set of tapes, recorded in 1972-1973, consists of 16 interviews; the second set, recorded in 1976, consists of 57 interviews. The originals are held by the City of Richmond Archives.

Scope and content

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Bob Atchison RECORDED: Richmond (B.C.), 1976-03-05 SUMMARY: Bob Atchison first started work in 1932 at the St. Mungo Cannery, one of the second or third earliest canneries on the Fraser River. Used four-spindle machinery, a type of seaming equipment used with sanitary cans. Prior to WWI, St. Mungo made its own cans. Describes canning process, and skill of Chinese workers. Discusses different machines used. Discusses living conditions and different nationalities of workers at the canneries. Canneries had nurseries. Paid by the hour, except when filling cans by hand, which was paid by the tray. There were 36 cans on a tray. He worked for 15 cents an hour in 1926, on machinery. Describes the exact canning process of salmon in the early 1900s. Talks about the sailing ships that were tied up on the Fraser River. In those days the canneries always supplied their own fish boats. In those days it was a 25 foot double ended sailing boat with a set of big oars and a man would row it. These boats brought in great amounts of fish because there were terrific amounts in the Fraser River. The collecting of fish was usually done by a tugboat pulling a scow around. The early boats didn't range so far. The first cannery in B.C. was the Annieville in Gunnerson Slough. Explains the story behind the name of the Annieville Cannery. Didn't notice any discrimination in those days, the Japanese were fishermen, the Chinese were shore workers, everyone got along fine. The better the machinery got the more people were employed because there was more fish processed. Discusses cannery output. Discusses unions. Believes the canneries didn't object to the unions coming in because it settled an awful lot of labour problems. Discusses the labour problems before the War. No fixed hours of work, poor working conditions, unfavourable living conditions. Some of the boats were pretty crude and there weren't any facilities on them. Companies welcomed the coming of unions. Remembers working at St. Mungo Cannery for $60.00 a month with board, with no overtime.

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Immediate source of acquisition

Richmond Arts Centre, 1972-73 & 1976

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Location of originals

Originals held by the City of Richmond Archives.

Availability of other formats

  • Outline in documentation file.
  • Reference cassette copy available in container 000443-127.

Restrictions on access

No access restrictions apply.

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  • Copying Restriction: Undetermined.
  • Use Restriction: Undetermined.
  • Copyright Status: Copyright Richmond Arts Centre?

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General note

Accession number(s): T2090

Credits note

speaker: Bob Atchison, interviewer: Darlene Clyne

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