The Nutritive Value of Marine Products: VIII. Proximate Analysis of Canned British Columbia Sockeye and Pink Salmon

• Published in: Journal of the Biological Board of Canada
• Main Author: Carter, Neal M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1936
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; General Environmental Science; Sockeye; Pink salmon; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f36-022; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/f36-022

The proximate compositions and calculated calorific values of individual and composite samples of canned sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) and pink (O. gorbuscha) salmon from fish caught in several localities on the British Columbia coast are compared. The resulting data are also presented in such a way as to allow comparison of the composition and energy content of the various constituents in the can, some of which are frequently discarded in the utilization of canned salmon. The average percentages of the total oil, protein, salt (sodium chloride)-free minerals, and Calories contributed by the different constituents in the samples were respectively: flesh—(sockeye) 62, (pink) 72; 85, 81; 55, 54; 73, 78; skin—(sockeye) 11.2, (pink) 15.3; 3.6, 4.3; 9.8, 6.7; 7.7, 9.0; free aqueous liquor—(sockeye) 0, (pink) 0; 11, 14; 5, 7; 4, 8; free oil—(oil) 26, 10; (Calories) 15, 4; bone—(salt-free minerals) 30.2, 32.6. Corresponding average percentage compositions of composite samples of entire contents were: water—(sockeye) 68.6, (pink) 71.5; oil—8.82, 6.75; protein—20.2, 19.3; salt-free minerals—1.57, 1.57. The average energy contents were (sockeye) 749, (pink) 644 Calories per pound. Comparison with published analyses of canned sockeye and pink salmon from Alaska and Washington indicated that more extensive and detailed sampling will be necessary before conclusions can be drawn regarding the comparative compositions and food values of canned British Columbia salmons, and the relation of these values to those of salmon caught to the north and south.