Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-07-15
INDUSTRY
WILL EMPLOY
300 WORKMEN
May Handle 100000
Worth Of Canned
Shrimp Annua
Owner Estimates

IA shrimp canning plant, capable
Of shipping over 100000 worth OF
canned shrimp annually. is now
nearing completion mt Point Isabel,
and will be ready for operation
within the next so days.
This plant il owned by the San
Patrico Canning company of Aran-
sas Pass. which in turn Is a sub
sidiary of the Rice Bros. Packing
company and the Sea Foods Pro-
ducts company of Apallachicola, Fla.
These enterprises are owned and
operated By four mem; i. r. Rice.
Jr. :. Castorina. ". n. Rice, and
j.. TT. Ploeger.
The Point Isabel plant is being
constructed at "A cost az approxi-
mately $4,000.
Employ 800 Worknen
Although divided into two sec
tions, the building IN 800 feet long
and constructed OF hollow tile. The
first section. which houses the re-
frigerating plant and power ma
chinery ~ 80 feet long and "a feet
wide. The second section in which
the canning is 20 he done, Is 240
feet long and 81 feet wide.
Approximately ESQ women and so
men will be employed by the can
merry which will be able ~ handle
10000 pounds az shrimp every 10
hours.
These prepared shrimp will be
packed both i'm glasses and cans
and will be shipped to all parts OF
the world, according to S. Castorina.
p OK the owners Of the enterprise
who is now az Point Isabel await
ing completion Of the plant.
Although the company does not
own It's w "shrimpingn fleet, over
20 boats will be employed at all
times, il is said.
These boats will bring their car
goes 20 the private wharves ~ the
company through a recently COM
pleted ship channel which has its
main outlet in Laguna Madre about
n mile and n half from the can
merry and south Of the townsite.
Special Channel Constructed
This ship channel was construct
ed by the Port Isabel Development
company for the sole use Of the San
Patrlcio Canning company plant.
Erection Of this cannery is under
the direct supervision Of j. N. Dooley
who will also serve as plant Aupar-
intendent upon It's completion.
Dooiey was connected with the
American Can company for 21 years
and served from time 10 time IN
that company's New Orleans and
haywood H. plants. Inc company
operates Az factories throughout
the United States.
1 LETT that organization appro1i-
mately two years ago to take a rosi-
ton with the San Patricio Canning
company" he said.
Dooley seems possessed with super-
human energy. When ne speaks N
~ with such rapidity that the words
seem TO tumble over themselves a
they are spoken.
During the interview. Dooley
moved constantly. shifting his
weight from one foot TO the other.
e~vldencing the fact that there was
yet work to ~ done and little time
for conversation.
Owner on Ground
- man VINO ls 70 operate the
foint Isabel plant has a magnetic
cient.
m speaking NY the ENTERPRISE,
Castonia. n Of the owners. de-
clared that when the clmpanv-H
iirst plant was established III
Arkansas Pass three years ago. that
the people Of Texas wouldn't con-
sumo ~ cases Of shrimp a year.
lhey had no idea what ~ was
with p exception OF those few Der.
sons who live in coast towns Ia
SAID and had it not been for the
eastern markets, the plant would
nave been a complete failure
Realizing that the tastes of the
Texans must be educated. CCastnr.
n secured a booth a the State Fair
at Dallas in 1926 and during the en-
tire celebration served shrimD aaIad
70 the thousands NJ visitors to that
exhibition.
The booth was directly in charvs
of Mrs. Castorina who was avsirted
oy one Of the states finest "sea
food" chefs.
Texas Second in ConsumptIon
I'm 1897, IN year later" Castor.
ina continued, "the Texas markst
for our product was second Neu
York state being first, and Texas
alone can now consume aIl WV
shrimp that can be caught aIonS
her shore line
Castorina declared that thar.
would he many times that the Point
Isabel plant would probably nave "a
elose because ca inability OF the
ilshermen 40 furnish shrimp.
shrimp are migratory" ne said
= while they might abound
along this section OF the coast M.
day, p might awake tomorrow and
IND no trace Of them. It will Be
the duty Of the fishermen TO search
the Gulf coast for hem. Follou
Wherever they might wander"
May Can Grapefruit
tentative plans, according 10 Cas-
torlna, are also being made w can
Valley grapefruit.
The plant will have a canacitv n
handle 20 tons q day.
We have not fully decided ~
this, however, he said. "as vs
must first find out how che.ulv
they can Tx shipped into The plari
before we will know whether NJ
can compete with the canneries 10.
Gated IN the heart of the productior
belt. Point Isabel. YOU know. N \
little out OF the beaten track In
this respect and we WOULD have A
have the fruit shipped down here
Castorina has spent "A lifetime
in the shrimp and fish cannins
4 business his first nIaptg bcfrr
operated along the Florida coast.
Castorina Production Chief
1T is possible he said. "that