Why Canned Tuna Is Only Sold In Short Tins

Tuna comes only in short, round little cans, and there’s an interesting reason behind it. As legend has it, canned tuna was born out of necessity.

Around 1903, California fisherman Albert P. Halfhil realized that sardines were becoming harder to catch, so he filled his empty sardine cans with the tuna he caught instead.

This helped him keep making money, and within a decade, he was reportedly selling 400,000 cases per year. However, sardines were sold in short cans due to preservation needs.

Since canning was the chosen method for perishables — like fish — back then, and sardines fit perfectly in short, rounded tins, there was never a need to change the packaging.