The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-02
STANDARDIZED
CANS ARE ADOPTED
Housewives Will Be Protected in
Their Purchase of
... Oysters.
LETTERS TO GOVERNORS
They Are to Appoint Bacteriolo-
gist and Chemist for New
Survey.
LETTERS TO GOVERNORS

Washington, October LII the oys-
ter packers and oyster can manufac-
turers Of the country. as well as the
pure food board, have their way. house
wives who depend from time to- time
upon canned oysters for their source OF
supply OF this food will soon be able
to purchase oysters in standard sized
cans, about which there can be no
question Of quantity Of contents. par
ticuIarly Of short measure.
A "gentleman's agreement which
will result IN .standardizing the size
Of oyster cans. was reached at a con-
ference held at the Raleigh Hotel to-
day between packers OF Baltimore. the
| soutlI Atiaxtic and gulf coast states
representing millions OF dollars invest
ed in the oyster-packtng industry. The
agreement followed luncheon ten
dered to the packers by representatives
Of large can manufacturing company.
and packers from all over the eastern
and gulf seaboard came to Washing
ton to attend IT,
DR.. DOollttle IN Csnferenee.
William G. Daugherty. chairman OF
the Baltimore Canned Goods Exchange.
called the packers to Washington for
the informal meeting, and they were
addressed by DR.. Doolittle. acting chief
Of the bureau of chemistry. and DR..
Bigelow. his assistant, who explained
to the packers the working Of the
pure food circular, under which the
government requires that the size OF
the oyster can shall indicate the guam
tity Of contents. the packers. on their
side. pointing out to the government
ofiicials that the law which requires
that a can shall weigh a certain net
amount is really no protection TO the
consumer against short measure, for
the reason that the can can be filled
with water and made to weigh as
much. in some cases. as when II is
filed with oysters.
Psekers want HsDest Can.
The packers at the conference to-
day told the government ofncials. also.
that they are In want Of an honest
can. SO that the honest packer shall
have protection against the dishonest
packer. who desires to all his oyster
can with more or less water This
protection sought Nv honest packers.
il was agreed at to-day's meeting. will
come about, to a considerable extent.
with the adoption Of a set Of standard
sizes OF cans.
Some Of the cans now used for pack
ing oysters are four inches high.
some OF them four and a quarter
inches and some Of them are Of 9TH
er sizes. It Is TO do away with these
differences that a. "gentleman's
agreement made to-day. was formed.
and il was stated that II will also
greatly benefit can manufacturers all
over the country. who will hereafter
be able to use certain set sizes OF
machines for making cans rather
than q variety OF sizes. and in other
ways bring apcut economy In manu-
featuring.
lnassDsIly Dsse0ss Psts0se Beds.
The packers and csnmakers did not
ofaciaIiy take cognizancc Of the dis
puec now going on between Maryland
and Virginia oystermen and the Bu-
reau OF Chemistry as to the alleged
pollution of Potomac River oysters.
as they we're engaged to-day only upon
the subject Of the container IN which
oysters age packed There was in
formal ..iscassion OF the subject. how
ever. and the packers were quick to
say tina, the disagreement could not
affect their industry. tnAsmuch as the
canning process renders oysters sterii-
lied. owing 20 the intense steam heat
20 which packed oJsters are subjected
thereby killing any germs OF bacteria
which might be in the oysters. Pack
.rs individually declares themselves
10 be highly interested IN the moral
aspec, Of the Potomac River quarrel
Lssee Psessess WeUsvssDteA
Among those at the conference TO-
Aav were c. .. Brooke. OF the Joha
Roy,e Company. Baltimore: James "
pynps.. Of D2utor. L0peS & Dakses
company. New orleaas: T. G. white, OF
". ". Boyer = Co. Baltimore. Rsfus
~ sna John 8 Gfbbs. Jr.. % Bsisf-
more: Charles o. Torseh. Of the Torsck
Packing Company. BALTIMORE. w. l. II
ramsremsks. % the Felican Packtng
Company. xew Orleans: Rsge Breshsrs.
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