01-001-336 Me. Code R. § II-15
The opened can is first graded for color and texture of the tomato sauce for floating defects in the sauce and for General Appearance. The tomato sauce is then carefully removed by placing the opened can under a tap of running water (using a standard faucet with 3/4" to 1/2" orifice and water adjusted to a stream of 3/8" diameter 3" below the faucet orifice). The can contents, with the sauce removed, are graded for defects, then the can is inverted onto a tared standard grading screen (8" in diameter, 2 meshes per Inch, with 0.446 + 3% square opening). The sardines are separated on the draining screen, sprayed gently with water while the sardines are turned over to remove the tomato sauce, then drained 3 minutes on the draining screen. The residue remaining on the screen is the drained weight of the fish. The free sauce is determined by subtracting the weight of the drained fish from the net weight of contents - the difference being the weight of free sauce in the can.
01-001 C.M.R. ch. 336, § II-15