The morning call., 1893-10-27
FRENCH SARDINES
One of the Great Packers
in This City.
Louis Amieux Speaks Enthusiastic
caIly of the Canning Industry
as Seen in California.

1t is always pleasant to hear ones self
we'll spoken Of, and this more particularly
applies when the parsonage saying kind
things is capable of due discrimination.
Yesterday Louis Amieux had something
to say to CALL reporter about his expe-
riences in the United States generally and
in California particularly. That he should
speak well of this country seems natural,
for the firm OF which be ls a member
draws about 10000 hard American dollars
into the French metropolis every year.
Sardines are a strong point with Mr..
Amicnx, and what he does not know about
tie toOthsome little fish is not worth learn
ing. Nine factories along the Breton coast
turn out 7,5O0. 900 tins each year. In the
State of Maine, however, a very fair show
ing is made each season wien sprats are
canned il immense quantities, cotton seed
being the substitute for the richer oil.
Il came over to this country" remarked
Mr.. Ameux, with the Hading-Coquelin
Company. and while my desire was to
reach the Golden State as soon as possible
that desire was intensified by what Nine.
HadiDg told me regarding this city. Dur
ing my short av in the State have beer
through certain Of the truIt districts and
have been astounded at the clever way in
which the canning industry is carried out
Right here" interjected Mr. Amieux,
''let me make complaint. | always Ike
when IL country strange 10 me to get all
the Information possible. When l arrived
| in New York found DO California wines
on the hotel list, and when l asked for
them | could not be supplied. Thai Is all
wrong, and since my arrival here [ have
used only The native product"
| Returning to his original subject Mr..
Amieux spoke admiringly Of the intricate
machinery that can turn out 10000 cans I
| day at certain factories.
"One machine" said he. Twill cost about
! $4,000 and would be of no use to US in
France. You do everything on large
| scale, but with Us it is not so; we make all
our own cans, and make them perhaps
trfie neater IN appearance than is done
here"
Upon being asked regarding the effect
which the Mckinley bill had on the Indus
try in which he is engaged, Mr.. Amieux
grew eloquent.
"One clause in that BILL" he remarked.
sis very good. 1t compels every one to
be on the abel OF the package or can
when II was packed and by what firm.
Germany has been great offender in in
Producing 10 this country many kinds Of
goods with fraudulent labels, and BIZ the
clause alluded to this has been stopped"
Has the bill bad the effect of reducing
your shipments TO THIS country was
asked.
No." was the reply. "Sardines, whether
plain or aux truffes, are Injuries, and
people who desire them are willing and
able TO pay for having such refined taste.
The duty on sardines averages about 80
per cent, and much inconvenience was
caused by changing the mode of levyng
the duty. 1t used to he levied proportion
ately 10 the size of the .ins, and sardines
used to be packed in three sizes. Now all
sizes have to pay the same amount 10
avoid the loss thus incurred we prepared
a maximum size especially for the Amer-
can market, ard now we are not COM
planning.
But" added the speaker, with vege-
tables it is different. We used to export
large quantities of peas particularly, but
a duty Of 10 per cent caused that part of
our business to be very much curtai ed.
"One thing has occurred to me-" con-
tlnued Mr.. Amtaux. with greater force
than anything else. 1t is that my country
men and women ought to travel more in
this country. Although the French popu-
lation is, l know. quite large in California,
yet the masses of French people are un-
aware of the vast extent and beauty of
California. From here ! 90 to the City of
Mexico. and thence TO Canada via New
York; but | am sure in all my tour, which
is entirely for pleasure. / will experience
no greater happiness than that have ex-
perienced while being entertained so cour-
teously in San Francisco"