All necessary preparatory work performed on the named aquatic
products as an integral part of a single uninterrupted canning process
is subject to section 13(b)(4) (see Tobin v. Blue Channel Corp., 198 F.
2d 245, approved in Mitchell v. Myrtle Grove Packing Co., 350 U.S. 891).
Such activities conducted as essential and integrated steps in the
continuous and uninterrupted process of canning are clearly within the
definition of ``canning'' as contemplated by Congress and cannot be
viewed in isolation from the canning process as a whole. Exempt
preparatory operations include the necessary weighing, cleaning,
picking, peeling, shucking, cutting, heating, cooling, steaming, mixing,
cooking, carrying, conveying, and transferring to the containers the
exempt aquatic products (see Mitchell v. Stinson, 217 F. 2d 214). But
the preparatory operations do not include operations specified in
section 13(a)(5) pertaining to the acquisition of the exempt products
from nature. Therefore, if a canner employs fishermen or others to
catch, take, harvest, cultivate or farm aquatic animal and vegetable
life, section 13(a)(5) and not section 13(b)(4) would apply to these
particular operations.
