Tuna boat crews filed suit against three canners.

The lawsuit, which was filed by 31 crewmen from several U.S.-based tuna boats, seeks $150 million in lost earnings and damages from the canners. The suit charges H. J. Heinz (manufacturer of Star-Kist Tuna), Ralston Purina (which markets Chicken of the Sea tuna) and Castle & Cooke (which makes Bumble Bee tuna) with illegally monopolizing the U.S. tuna industry. In February, 31 independent boat owners charged the same three firms with conspiring to monopolize the industry and destroy the American tuna fleet. Attorneys for the group said the court actions could be joined in U.S. District Court, Southern District of California.