used. Today it is only a small part of the total pack. There have been 

 changes too in the use of different sized cans by tuna packers. Consumers' 

 desires dictate what tuna packers shall produce and are far from uniform. 

 The whole subject of consumption is a dynamic one with changes continually 

 taking place. The changes in the volume of the various types of products, 

 species used, and can sizes are discussed in the following pages. 



TYPE OF PACK SUCH AS SOLID, CHUNK, GRATED, 

 FLAKES, ETC., AND ADDITIVES SUCH AS OIL AND 

 BRINE 



Since 1938, there has been a trend away from the type of packing 

 known as solid pack. Prior to that time, over 90 percent of the pro- 

 duction was solid pack. The only tuna packed as flakes was that which 

 could not be packed as solid pack because of the small size of pieces. 

 Between 1938 and 1946 an increasingly large amount of tuna was canned as 

 grated- tuna. Sales of the grated product increased so that more and more 

 of the pack was put up in this manner. In 1948, the first pack of chunk 

 style or bite-size tuna was marketed. This was an improvanent on the 

 grated pack and still retained the labor-saving advantages. As a result 

 of these changes only 35 percent of the 1952 production was solid pack. 

 Figpre 5 shows the percentage of the total pack that was canned as solid 

 pack during the years 1929-1952. Table 7 shows the production brokai 

 down into solid pack and "other" for that period. 



Practically all of the pack during this period was in oil. Since 

 1950, a small quantity of dietetic pack (in distilled water without salt) 

 and of strained tuna for baby food has been packed. As the amount packed 

 was relatively insignificant, it has been included with other tuna in the 

 statistical data. Some tuna and noodles were packed in 1952, but data on 

 this pack have not been included in the tables on canned fish production 

 in this report. 



Several factors are considered by consumers in the buying of solid, 

 or chunk, or grated tuna. Price differentials and the use of the product 

 are the primary considerations. The usual price premium that many con- 

 sumers are willing to pay for solid pack is attributed to a better appear- 

 ance and a belief as to its better quality. Since the introduction of the 

 chunk style pack several years ago, however, there has been a shift to 

 this pack by consumers in many markets. The solid pack must be broken up 

 for use in salads or cooked dishes, but the chunk pack, while still 

 retaining a good appearance, is in more convenient form for use and sells 

 at a lower price per can and usually per ounce of contents, 



60 



