The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-05-12
The Canning Business.

The new canning industry started in Bel
fast by Mr.. j. J. Lawton naturally directs
attention to this great industry, which EN-
ploys thousands of people and produces mil
lions of dollars worth of goods. Nearly
everything of an edible nature is now can
ned, so that even in our cold climate we
may preserve and eat the fruits of summer
throughout ali the months of the year.
1t may interest the readers of the Journal
to know that the business was first started
in the United States by Waldo county
man. Mr. Richard Rathburn, in Section ",
Volume 2, of the History and Methods of
the Fisheries, in the L. S. Fisheries Reports,
says in sketch of the canning industry:
Mr.. L. s. Treat, native of Maine, ap-
pears, however, to have been the most ac-
| tive and influential in starting the enter
prise and in introducing canned goods into
the markets of the United States. Mr.. Treat
was, at an early period. engaged in the prep
aration of smoked salmon on the Penobscot
river, Frankfort, and in 1899 removed to
Calais, Me, where he continued III the same
business. About 1910 he associated with
him Mr.. Noble. Of Calais, and Mr.. Holli-
day, a native of Scotland, who had also been
employed in the salmon fisheries Of the Pc
nobscot river, under the firm name of Treat,
Noble & Holiday This firm moved to
Eastport i'll 1S42 for the purpose of starting
the manufacture of hermetcaly sealed
goods, and began experiments with lob
sters, salmon and hadtlock. Their capital
was limited, their appliances crude and
Ill Il
tered. The quality of the cans furnished
them was poor, causing them often to burst
while in the BATH and the proper methods
of bathing and of expelling the air from the
cans We're not understood. The experiments
We're continued Tor two years with VARYING
success, and in secret, no outsiders being al
lowed to enter their bathing room. Though
fairly successful i'll some of their results
they could not always depend upon their
goods keeping we'll.
In lS43 they secured the services of Mr.
Charles MITCHELL who was then residing at
Halifax, and who was not only we'll ac-
quainted with the methods of bathing prac-
tlced III his own country, but also practical
tnsmith. He had been employed in the
| canning of Theoretically sealed goods in
Scotland for ten years. and came over to
Halifax i'll 1871. where he continued for two
years III the same occupation, exporting his
goods to England. After Mr.. Mitchell's ar
rival at PASSPORT no further difficulty was
experienced in the bathing or other prepara-
ton of the Holsters, and desirable grade of
goods was put up, but they found no sale as I
canned preparations We're comparatively un.
known in the markets Of the United States
Mr.. Treat. visited each of the larger cities
with samples of the goods. ana en,leavored
to establish agencies for them, but he was
generally obliged to send on cons gnment
as few firms We're willing to take the re-
sponsihlity Of nlving on their own account
y patent WAS also applied for, but the claim
was not pressed and the patent never re-
celved-
In 1ol5, on perhaps earlier, Mr. Treat with
drew from the partnerships ana the firm he
came Mitchell x Noble, with w. H. Lewis
as agent In 1s4G Mr.. Treat purchased the
island between PASSPORT and Lllhec. which
has since gone hV his name. On one side Of
the island he constructed 4 large. herring
Weir. and in connection with it extensive