The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-07
ALLIGATORS' HIDES,
The Uses Of the Snurian Reptiles EpidermiS-
Uow IL IL pranared

How it is Prepared.
Exactly how many alligators' hides
are received annually in New York to
he tanned for boots and SHOES is not
known; but they do not fall far below
ten thousand skins. They are disposed
OF In two ways: One or two films IN
Massachusetts buy them to make up into
cheap, machine-sewed shoes; while
shoemakers in this city purchase almost
exclusively for custom work.
Several Nassau street firms, Ferris &
Sons and others, receive much OF the
supply; but the largest consumers are
Mahrenho z Bros, III Broadway, who
use up over five thousand skins in a
wear. These firms send their work all
over the United States and to many
parts of Europe, especially to Switzer-
land, for the use OF hunters. The pur-
chasers, by an ingenious cOntriVauce
measures his own foot and receives the
boots by express.
The SKINS are usually contracted for
by the New York firms with parties in
Jacksonville, Fla, and New Orleans.
70 these places the skins are sent hy
The outlying small dealers VINO buy
them from the hunters. The hunters are
negroes or halt breeds. The Red Il .yer,
the bayous along the lower Mississippi ,
and the swamps of Florida lurnis Ii
almost all the alligator hides used. AS
soon as the reptile is Shot and dragged
to shore, the under portion is cut and
stripped Utf, as that is The only part OF
the hide tnat can be tanned Especial
pains are taken to preserve the skin on
the under side Of each claw. 1t has the
finest marking and is soft and elegant.
The hide is preserved In brine, just as
that OF other animals is.
The alllgators are hunted in the night
for the same reason that deer are hunt
ed in the dark. A blazing torcu or
pitch pine knot attracts Lhereptile, and,
as he swims up to investigate, his little
bead-like eyes glow like GOALS and make
an excellent target for The rifle. That
lis the only weapon used. "A bullet
through the creatures skin renders il
| wortnless. 1T is difficult TO pierce the
hide, however, as the back and sides
are horny and bullet proof. This sub
stance is, when it can be easily trans
ported, made into que. The age OF the
alligator has nothing 10 do Win the eX-
cellence OF the hide.
They grow to great age. Messrs.
Mahrenho q who own the large alligator
| i'll the CenLiat Park collection, say thai
| 1t is doub less seventy years old; it mas
captured. No LWo skins are alike,
There seem to be different distinct
species under the common generic term
alllgator. Tanning and dressing is a
difficult and tedious operation. A firm
Of tanners in New Orleans failed year
ago because they sought by a short
process to turn out hides in six weeks
| That should have been in their hands
for six months. Their leather tore like
brown paper.
The tanning is done by firms in New
Jersey and Westchesler County, who
10 not make it a specially. The curry
ing must be done Oh bias, else the
knlle cuts the skin to pieces. 1t takes 9
whole skin to make one hunters boot
one not being large enough Tor pair
Shoes are made from the skin of the
c.aws, generally the rear ones, as the
others are too small. Some skins are
found to be too light, others too bony
and after manufacturer has obtained
just the hide he is satisfied with, he hal
thrown away or spoiled 1ive or six to &c
it. A good hide, ready Tor the last, il
worth $6o, a poor one $4J.- New YOrl
f, SUN.