CANNING PRODUCTION OF “ZHELRYBAˮ IN 1923–1929

The article is devoted to a little-studied topic – the canning production of “Zhelrybaˮ (abbreviation of the Russian words “ZHELeznaya dorogaˮ, railway, and “rybaˮ, fish). The source base is the materials of the periodical press of 1923-1929 and unpublished materials of the central and local (Murmansk) archives. The article attempts to identify the economic and technical features associated with the production of canned food of “Zhelrybaˮ enterprise. Based on extensive archival material, the specifics of canned food production at the enterprise associated with the colonisation of Kola Peninsula, the range of products produced, as well as economic indicators of the effectiveness of the canning production of the enterprise, are studied. Data on possible options for a different geographical location of the enterprise’s production facilities are provided, with an economic justification of the pros and cons of certain localities. The author concludes that “Zhelrybaˮ was able to start industrial production of high-quality canned food from scratch and at the same time contribute to the economic development of those areas where its production was located.