MAINE SARDINE INDUSTRY. all 
shoveling sawdust over them. They are then sent to the storage 
room below and allowed to cool (Pl. VIII, fig. 2), after which each can 
is tested and then packed in a shipping case, or, as it 1s termed by 
the trade, ‘‘shook.”’ 
THE CANS. 
As already stated, the cans used for packing sardines in oil are 
designated, according to their size, as quarter oil, high-quarter oil, 
and half oil, while those used for packing sardines in mustard sauce 
are called quarter mustard and three-quarter mustard. The quarter 
oil and the quarter mustard cans are the same size. The greater 
part of the sardine pack is put up in oil, in the quarter size cans, 
and about 25 per cent of the normal output in mustard sauce, mostly 
in the three-quarter size cans. Lacquered cans, made from tin coated 
with a preparation which prevents the action of the acid in the sauce 
upon the metal, are employed only for mustard sardines. A case of 
quarter oil or mustard sardines contains 100 cans, while a case of 
three-quarter size mustards contains 48 cans. 
The cans used for both oils and mustards are divided into two 
classes, the key-opening and the keyless. Projecting from the corner 
of the key-opening or three-piece can, the bottom of which is soldered 
on, is a small lip to which the key for opening the can is attached. 
One objection to this type of can is that, in order to open it with 
the ‘‘brights”’ up, the fish must be packed with the belly portions 
against the bottom of the can. It 1s practically impossible to inspect 
properly the quality of the fish placed in such cans or the manner in 
which they have been packed. These cans also are more subject to 
small leaks than are some of the other types. The key-opening two- 
plece can, provided with a scored top, lacks some of the objectionable 
features of the three-piece can, but is less successfully opened. The 
keyless cans, also called drawn cans, or two-piece cans, are stamped 
directly from sheets of tin by means of a power press and die. Key 
openers for these cans are made by scoring the covers around the 
edges and providing a projecting lip at one corner or at the end for 
the key. 
TABLE 2.—Size of sardine cans.} 
Length. Width. Height. Lid set in. 
Type of can. é : 
enti- Centi- Centi- Centi- 
Inches. | meters. | M¢hes-| meters. | hes: | meters. | MChES- | meters 
Three-quarter mustard (keyless) - - .- - 424 | 11.9 314 8.8 145 3.8 0.35 
Half oif'(key More ee 44 | 11.6 Bite Reb emis lee ee 7 * 3 
One-quarter oil and mustard, drawn p 
ea (keyléss)-2sscas.scccmaear omen 4,6, | 10.7 239 7.5 2.0 or 3 
Ose cssksp ee ee eh loa ES 10. 55 ae 7.5 z 2.0 5 35 
ay oil and mustard, 3-piece ee Zo - a i 
Cantey) <2:<i2 hi. 3. ace eaten teeter 48 10.7 234 7.6 aA. 1.9 4, -3 
Sa ee 4, | 10.6 2 | 7.6 2 allem lagi = 35 
Hipieguarierms iiss. 2:22 2a 4%, | 10.6 234 7.6 Es 2.9 as .35 
1 Since these measurements were taken, the height of the one-quarter cans has been reduced +z inch. 
In er of fee possible changes, these dimensions may not be exactly correct to the fractions of inches 
or centimeters. 
