Why Does Canned Tuna Only Come In Short Tins? - Chowhound

In the early 1900s, California's coast was teeming with sardines, but in 1903, problems like overfishing and rough ocean waters caused the well to run dry. Halfhil, who made his living from sardine fishing, had to improvise. So he picked the next most-common fish to catch in the area: Tuna. He started packing sardine cans with tuna instead, which helped him keep making money, and within about a decade, he was…