“WATERFRONT NEWS – NATIONAL PACKING CO., a subsidiary of the VAN CAMP SEAFOOD CO. of Terminal Island, is constructing a new $1,000,000 (equivalent to $10,635,203 today – ed.) packing plant near Ponce, Puerto Rico. The VanCamp canneries at San Pedro, Pago Pago, American Samoa, Ponce, Puerto Rico, and at Manta, Ecuador; were purchased by the RALSTON PURINA CO. in 1963. In the same deal Ralston also acquired the San Diego tuna clippers ‘AMERICAN QUEEN’, ‘WHITE STAR’, and ‘CHICKEN OF THE SEA’. This Puerto Rican construction program calls for a modern cannery, a cold storage unit, and a fish meal facility.
Van Camp’s first cannery was established at 1445 S. Crosby Street here in San Diego. It operated for half a century. That plant was closed June 1, 1959 and moved to Terminal Island at San Pedro.”
(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Bee newspaper – Wednesday, March 17, 1965 – Pg. 22)