Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1852-03-20

without sailing, drying, or voyaging, are
worth in the states when tanned % cents per
lb. and here 37A to 40 cents per lb.
And | would here remark that think one
principal reason that our hides command a
less price in Boston or New York, than those
of Montevideo, Buenos Ayres, and other
places is owing to the practice of branding
for the purpose of marking the cattle, in such
a way and to such an extent as to reduce the
value of the hide nearly one third; practice
which appears to me not only cruel in the
extreme, but entirely needless, believing, as
| do, that brand on the horn near the head
would answer ever, purpose, without the
slightest injury to either bullock or hide.
With reference to hides it must be obvious
to every one that there is either some mistake
in regard to the number exported, or there
are large number wasted and destroyed OF
which we have no account the latter is un-
doubtedly true.
1t is fact not generally known that with
perhaps one exception the goat skins export
ed from these islands are the best known
to shoe manufacturers in the United States,
and command the highest price ; my own
opinion is, could the same skins go direct to
the tannery from the slaughter, without salt
ing, drying, or making the voyage, they
would be worth nearly double their present
value as it is well known that drying and
sailing, particularly the latter, renders the
skin hard, brittle and liable to crack.
Another fact, a knowledge of which is lim-
tied, is that we do not have the credit of ex-
porting these skins, they are known almost
universally in the States as California skins.
Ask tanner, morocco dresser, leather-deal-
er, or manufactures for Hawaiian or
Sandwich Island goat skins, kid or morocco,
he will tell you he is not aware there is such
an article enquire for California skins you
will at once be shown the skins exported from
the islands. This fact, of little Importance in
itselfPerhaps, suppose may be accounted for
by reason of hides and tallow having been i'm
ported into the States from California, Cen
tral, and South America, with some fine goat
skins from the latter places, for the last half
century.
From careful experiments in French, Eng
lish, German, Russian, American, Colonial
and Hawaiian upper feathers, am fully con-
vinced that when we'll tanned and curried,
the latter, from some cause, Is not only more
durable, but much more comfortable to the
feet, retaining its elasticity longer than any
other which | have ever used, and conse-
quently less liable to break.
This think is attributable partly to the
superior quality of the bark used in tanning,
and in part to the skins having been tanned
without losing SO much of their original
strength by exposure to salt, sun, voyage,
sc.
l., fem of
ton and expense in this kingdom, and any
thing tending to lessen that expense and at
the same time enrich the people as the con-
sumption increases, will, l apprehend, be re-
garded for the public good.
The grand difficulty as have before inti-
mated, with shoe leather in Honolulu, is the
universal tendency of the upper to break
away from the soles indeed it is almost i'm
possible to find any upper leather which will
wear out even an ordinary pair of soles.
There are several reasons for this, one of
which is the extreme heat to which the lea
ther is exposed, both from the sun, and tine
sand in our streets which in the middle of the
day is not unlike bed of hot ashes to walk
in this heat keeps the feet in constant
perspiration, which, if allowed to penetrate
the leather (as it is sure to do unless kept
out by frequent applications of oIl) destroys
the elasticity and life of the leather, and
prepares it to break rather than bend.
Another reason is said 10 be the saltpetre
contained in our soil which also tends very
much to destroy the life and strength of the
leather. But the principal reason as ap-
prehend is that to which have before allu
ded, viz: the fact that all leather made from
L. L. it1l hor
brittle, uncomfortable to the feet, and much
less serviceable than what IS usually termed
slaughter leather. The latter commands
double the price of the former, while the
cost of tanning is about the same, and the
hides originally just the same.
Tanning has been attempted at various
times and by various persons on nearly or
quite all of the inhabited Islands Of this group,
but owing to the want of the requisite skill,
capital, or proper encouragement, it has in al
most every instance been abandoned, and IN
some Of them without benefiting either the
operator or the public Yet all have believe
acknowledged the superiority of our bark.
There has been quite an amount OF saddle
and sole leather, as well as some goat and
calf skins, tanned and finished very credit
ably but | am not aware that any morocco
dresser has ever attempted his ayocation
among US. The vats and other apparatus
used have been of the simplest and rudest
kind got up perhaps for the purpose OF trying
an experiment and often lily adapted to the
purpose for which they we're intended.
A gentlemen now residing upon one OF our
islands, acquainted with the business and full
ly competent for the purpose, made an esti-
mate about year since, of the cost OF
establishment after the model OF the
most approved ones in the United States, ca
pable of turning out $500 hides per year :
and the profits on the same. The estimate,
believed to be very careful and correct one
and founded upon the most reliable informa-
fion. was shown to two or three of our resi-
dents and capitalists who examined and Con-
u. =