Reported by Times of San Diego
One of the best-known brand names associated with San Diego’s tuna industry was “Chicken of the Sea,” used by Van Camp Seafood Co. for its tuna products.
According to Chicken of the Sea’s official company history , fishermen in the early 1900s nicknamed white albacore tuna “chicken of the sea” because of its mild flavor and light color, and the first products carrying the brand name appeared in stores in 1930.
Of course, that was before the tuna industry became a controversial business within San Diego, but back then tuna was the name of the game.
Not only were canneries supplying food to families, but they were also helping the economy by creating jobs.
Early on, there were a handful of small canneries that opened in 1909, including Cabrillo Sardine Co. in La Playa, according to the City of San Diego Digital Archives . In 1911, the Pacific Tuna Canning Co. was formed and started to process albacore tuna at the bottom of F Street.
