212 NEW ENGLAND FISHERIES 



square tin boxes, they were guaranteed to keep sound, and 

 since they were also of a better quality than the imported 

 "Russians' 1 they succeeded in driving the German article 

 from the American market. 



While this industry was in the early stages of its progress 

 important experiments were being made in putting up her- 

 ring in oil. These efforts were undertaken by Mr. Henry 

 Sellmann and Mr. Julius Wolff of New York who, in 1876, 

 began to study the problem on a practical basis. Mr. 

 Sellmann moved to Eastport in order to facilitate his ex- 

 periments. In 1879 a new company was organized to carry 

 on the sardine industry known as the American Sardine 

 Company, and their first factory was built at Eastport. 

 The firm devised a new and better way of preparing the fish 

 for sardines, which differed from the French method, and 

 secured a patent for it. Prior to 1880, Eastport was the 

 only town in America engaged in canning sardines. At 

 that time, five canneries were in operation there and the 

 processes of packing were, as far as possible, kept secret. 



The first cannery for sardines was built at Eastport, in 

 1875. During each of the succeeding years one new can- 

 nery was added to the number so that in 1879 there were 

 five in operation. In the spring of 1880 eight more were 

 built at Eastport, and one each at Robbinston, Lubec, 

 Jonesport, Lamoine, and Camden, making eighteen in 

 operation in the State. By 1886 there were thirty-two 

 canneries in operation at Eastport and the neighboring 

 places. Along the coast, scattered from Cutler westward, 

 there were thirteen others in operation, making forty-five 

 canneries in the State in 1886. 



The following table shows the rapid growth of the can- 

 neries in Maine previous to 1886, and the amount and 

 value of sardines packed at periods since the business be- 

 gan. 



