The Bossier banner., 1880-12-30
How the Skins of the Rhin0eeros and
4 Boat Constructors are Utilized


The hides of the bull, bear, cow, calf.
sheep, goat. Kid and even the alliga tor,
for years past, have been sold in the
leather markets and are considered the
most desirable for the malfufacture of
boots, shoes saddlery, harness and
other articles for the general use and
wear of both man and beast. But the
ingenuity of the latter-day American
seems to have no limit. Forests and
jungles of the sunny Eastern hemisphere
have been penetrated in order to satisfy
the wants of fashion and of trade. The
hides of the ponderous, clumsy and
ugly rhinoceros and the treacherous
venemous boa-constrictor are now be-
ing turned into profitable account by
manufacturers. ~
~ The hide OF the rhinoceros, though of
the heaviest and thickest description
would appear to be more serviceable for
the manufacture Of saddlery and harness,
but this is not the case. Manufactur-
ers and dealers in these articles have
discovered this most endurable leather
to be of little use in their trade because
owing to its solidity and thickness a
needle of any power or sharpness can
hardly be made to penetrate it. Some
few months ago manufacturing firm
tested the durability and usefulness of
rhinoceros hide in the manufacture of a
carriage~spring. 1t was patented, but
rhinoceros leather was in too great
demand to satisfy the supply of these
springs and only by slow work could
orders be furnished; then the result of
this innovation developed itself, and
the hide of the mighty beast it was dis
covered could not withstand as much of
the wear and tear as the delicate kid,
it made in the same thickness and APP
piled to the same uses. ss.sf- s. :
t The skin was tanned and imported
here by foreign concerns and when
placed on sale brought very high prices.
Its general utility was not known, to a
great extent, until lately. AT present
the hide of the rhinoceros@ is chiefly
adapted to the manufacture of Jewellers
,bufting wheels, which are required in
making a polish ON gold jewelry, like
that brought out in Furnishing brass.
In Germany and England there are
about dozen tanneries where the skin
OF the rhinoeeros is prepared for the
market. "a 80 81
The skins are sent to the tanneries
direct from Africa in some cases by
regular hunting expedition parties. It
requires from two to three years time
to prepare the hides of these huge
monsters for the leather market. When
the time and cost required are taken
into: consideration, the cost of rhinoc-
eros leather after Importation is consid-
cradle. An enterprlsing tannery has
been established in Hartford, Connec-
ticut, for the reception of the raw skins.
. They are enabled to furnish the leath-
er to the trade of this city at a thick
ness of from a half to an eighth rof an
inch at one dollar per pound. 1t takes
but very little to make pound. From
one whole rhinoceros skin it is estima-i
ted that at least 250 pounds can be easily
secured for utilization from the tanz
merry and when assorted will, whe
sold, bring from $500 to $4OO. AL
though it takes nearly three years to
prepare one of these hides for the mar
ket, at least 100 could be run through
the process at the anne time. e%
The skins of the boa-constrictors ara
not supplied through the European
market, but are directly brought from
the deep forests of both Asia and Africa.
The serpents are trapped and secured
by the slaves of Oriental, Turkish and
Egyptian tradespeople, who have long
been supplying the demands of snake-.
charmers, showmen and stylish danes
and damsefs of foreign countries. The
snakes are often worn around the necks
and arms Of these people while alive.
They are made harmless by the skill of
the necromancer or serpent-doctor, who
is honored for his wonderful powers in
successfully tearing out the fangs and
drawing the deadly poison FROM these
serpents. At present large fancy
goods establishment on Broadway, near
Twentieth Street, has introduced the
skin of the boa-constrictor among some
OF the MOST fashionable and convenient
OF their articles of ladies' wear and per-
sonal adornment.a Ladies' waist-belts
and chatelaines are worn, made of the
Serpents' skins, upon our streets daily.
Z Such appliances create curiosity wher-
ever seen, looking so wild and barbar-
Gus in their design as to cause a suspic.
ION or doubt as to their genuineness.
They bring good prices. A, belt alone
costs seven dollars, but with chatelaine
attachment twelve dollars are demand
ed. Gard, cigarettes, cigar-cases and
portemonnaies are made to order from
the same material, as well as small
satchels and shopping-bags. Inssecur-
ing these King serpents Of the forest and
jungle the greatest of dangers are en-
countered.,, Breeding sets are often OBJ
tanned. q .'o7 a
The manner of preparing skins for
the tannery is. of delicate nature.
After the serpent has been put to death ]
by means that viii preserve the skin 4
from any cut or injury. the body is
passed over to taxidermist, who strips,
the hide as he would the skin from an 4
eel. The tanner doctors the frail hide
50 that it becomes perfectly pliable, and
retains all its natural appearance and
color as in life. Boa-constrictors thouoh
very ferocious and dangerous species
Of serpent, are also of very COSTLY
order to obtain. In this country they
have heretofore been considered ONLY
in the light of an attractive feature
among many curiosities attached to
-