PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. $25 
INSPECTION OF PLANTS PACKING CANNED SALMON. 
For some years there has been a desire on the part of a majority 
of the salmon canners for some form of inspection of the plants 
and of the pack made. The widespread suspicion that the salmon 
pack of, 1918 was considerably below standard, which suspicion 
resulted in heavy monetary loss to the packers, gave a great 
impetus to this desire. The National Canners’ Association, an 
organization composed of the majority of the canners of the United 
States, a few years before, at the request of the sardine canners of 
Maine, organized them into the sardine section of the association, 
and by an assessment of a small sum per case raised sufficient funds to 
piivide an ogc HOD service to see that the plants were put into and 
ept in a satisfactory sanitary condition and also to inspect the goods 
packed and, if they were up to the standards fixed in advance, to affix 
to the cans Mitable certificates attesting this. 
At its annual convention in 1919 the association decided to ex- 
tend a similar service to any other section willing to assess itself 
to pay the necessary expense. In explanation of its plan the asso- 
ciation issued the following circular shortly after the convention 
had adjourned: 
1. This service is installed by the National Canners’ Association, with which a 
direct contract is made by each canner. 
2. It runs for a term of three years and is applied in States or local territories where 
similar conditions are to be met. 
3. The cost of the inspection is paid by the canners in the territory named through 
an assessment which, in the past, has been collected by the can companies with 
which each canner deals. This cost is added to the can invoice, and is remitted by 
the can companies to the treasurer of the National Canners’ Association each month. 
4. In order to meet the preliminary expenses of the inspection before the regular 
fund becomes available, each canner who signs a contract will pay into the treasury 
of the National Canners’ Association, within 30 days after signing the contract, an 
assessment of one-half cent per case on his pack of 1918, on the commodities to be 
inspected. Should the total sum raised during the season be greater than the expenses 
of inspection during the season, a refund of all or a portion of the one-half cent per 
case will be made after a small sum is reserved to maintain a consistent surplus. 
5. The treasurer of the National Canners’ Association distributes this money to 
the local sections where the money is to be spent. 
6. The National Canners’ Association has no profit in this inspection—its only 
requirement being that each canner under inspection is a member of the association, 
and pays the membership and general dues. 
7. A director or supervisor of inspection is appointed by the National Canners’ 
Association who in turn appoints his assistants. The salaries of the director or su- 
pervisor and his assistants are fixed by the National Canners’ Association which works 
in harmony with the judgment of the advisory board. The director or supervisor 
must be a man of superior ability, preferably one with scientific training. He must 
also be a good executive. 
8. The director or supervisor acts in conjunction with the advisory board which 
may consist of five, seven, or nine members. This advisory board is elected by the 
canners in the States or Territories covered. The duties of this board are what its 
name implies, “advisors.” In point of actual experience, it is found this advisory 
board is able to settle all practical disputes and misunderstandings which may arise 
under this method of inspection. There is always a final appeal to the executive 
committee of the National Canners’ Association. 
9. The National Canners’ Association does not promise or guarantee to issue cer- 
tificates of inspection, but in territories where inspection has existed, the certificates 
have been issued on products which merit the same. It should be distinctly under- 
stood, however, that this does not form any part of the contract. 
10. The cost in territories where inspection has been applied has been one and 
one-quarter to two cents per case. It 1s impossible to advise in advance definitely 
what the cost will be, as the local conditions differ. It should be borne in mind that 
there must always be a sufficient number of inspectors to protect the inspection, and 
