The Nation - News from Jan. 5, 1986

Striking fishermen met boat owners for three hours and a federal mediator reported progress in talks aimed at ending a nine-day-old walkout in New Bedford, Mass., considered one of the country’s most prosperous fishing ports. The strike has cost fishermen and boat owners about $350,000 a say in lost revenue from fish and scallops sales, according to the New Bedford Chamber of Commerce. The main dispute hinges on how to divide profits. Under the old contract, fishermen received 58% of the catch on draggers, large boats hauling nets. Scallop crews received 64%. The boat owners have demanded a 50-50 split.