CANNING OF FISH AND FISH PRODUCTS 



445 



cooking, though the character of the oil used is also very important. The fish 

 should be uniform and of medium size to make the best product. 



Tuna-Canning Industry 



According to tradition Mr. A. P. Halfhill deserves the credit for starting the 

 tuna-canning industry. He had been canning sardines for about 10 years when in 

 1903 the sardines failed to appear. This circumstance threatened to close the 

 canneries for the season. However, Mr. Halfhill was familiar with the tuna, which 

 was abundant oflF the Coast of California, as well as the Italian pack of "Tunny." 

 After some experimentation he was successful in preparing a satisfactory pack. In 

 1903 700 cases were packed in San Pedro; these were sold on the market for 

 $5.00 per case. In 1948 6,340,172 cases were packed, and the wholesale price 

 was $22 per case for fancy white meat tuna and $17.25 per case for light meat 

 tuna. 



Species of Tuna. Yellowfin (Neothunnus macropterus) : This species averages 

 about 30 pounds in weight although individuals may be as small as 7/2 pounds and 

 as large as 300 pounds. The size-limits for landing are controlled by state laws. 



Table 97. Pack of Canned Tuna and Tunalike Fishes, 1948. 

 Standard Cases 



Species 



California 



Cases Value 



Washington 



and Oregon 



Cases Value 



Maine, Maryland, 



and Massachusetts 



Cases Value 



879,814 $16,366,937 419,429 18,192,381 



Total 



Cases Value 



1,299,243 $24,559,318 



3,891,612 

 > 148,778 

 1,026,706 

 185,363 

 188,776 

 27,780 

 89,167 



60,262,399 126,341 



2,378,079 

 15,905,662 23,732 



2,392,346 



2,238,982 

 437,075 



1,542,508 



3,388 



2,090,436 

 389,842 



53,361 26,729 $360,288 



4,017,953 

 > 148,778 

 1,050,438 

 185,363 

 188,776 

 57,897 

 89,167 



62,352,835 

 2,378,079 



16,295,504 

 2,392,346 

 2,238,982 

 850,724 

 1,542,508 



3,919,132 

 2,518,864 



64,881,667 

 36,642,321 



388,099 

 184,791 



8,032,772 

 2,693,248 



" 26,729 2 360,288 



4,333,960 

 2,703,655 



73,274,727 

 39,335,569 



Albacore 

 Yellowfin 

 Bluefin 

 Skipjack 

 Bonito 

 Yellowtail 

 Mixed species 

 Tonno, solid 



Total, solid 

 Total, flakes 



Grand total 



^ Includes a few cases of Atlantic Coast little tuna, packed in California. 

 " Includes flakes. 



Note: "Standard cases" represent the various-sized cases converted to the equivalent of 48 No. Vz 

 tuna cans to the case, each containing 7 ounces net weight of solid meat or 6 ounces net weight of flakes 

 or grated. Total pack in Washington amounted to 90,253 cases, valued at $1,643,697, while the production 

 in Oregon totaled 482,637 cases valued at $9,082,323. The actual cases packed were as follows: 6,891,649 

 cases were packed in the No. Vz tuna (48 cans to the case); 72,717 cases were packed in the No. 1 tuna 

 (48 cans to the case), each can containing 13 ounces net weight of solid meat or 12 ounces net weight 

 of flakes or grated meat ; and 614 cases of miscellaneous sized cases. Tuna and tunalike fishes were 

 canned in 30 plants in California, 14 in Washington, 13 in Oregon, 3 in Massachusetts, and 2 each in 

 Maine and Maryland. 



6,437,996 101,523,988 572,890 10,726,020 26,729 360,288 7,037,615 112,610,296 



Bluefin {Thunnus thynnus): This species is second in importance from the 

 standpoint of the volume of the pack. The average weight is 30 pounds, though 

 individuals are often both larger and smaller than this size. 



Skipjack (Katsuwonus pelannis): This is the smallest of the tunas, and is also 

 known as the striped tuna from the markings on the body. It averages about 

 10 to 12 pounds in weight. 



