Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-11

The demand Tor the genuine Alaska
sealskin. manufactured into sacques, dol
mans and wraps, increases faster than the
call for the cheaper and inferior qualities
of skin and imitation skin, says the New
York Star. This is the time of year that
New York furriers are busy supplying the
ladies who come to buy new garments or
have old ones repaired.
Sealskin was first utilized as garment
in 1867 at Londen. Forty years ago the
skin was considered to have little value.
boys cap that now costs S1S could then
be bought for 81. For the introduction of
the skin into America, the credit is due to
c. B. Camp of Cincinnati. O.. who. in 1868
had several caps made By manufacturers
in New York. Mr.. Camp got his idea in
1867 from Revillon of London, who was
the first man to make up the skin. Revil-
Ion has now an extensive establishment in
Paris as we'll The first garments made
were little capes that covered the shout
ders. In 1874 jackets began to be made.
but they were without any fit or style ex.
cept in the rich appearance of the goods
In 1876 sacques were made to fit, and in
1880 the first long newmarkets were put
on the market. Since 1882 cloaks and
sacques have been made with as much
care as to fitting as any cloth garment. and
the seal sacque is the standard and fash
ionable wrap OF the day.
The process of manufacture is interest
ing. The raw skin goes to London where
it is dyed and dressed The labor con.
sists of two dyeings, with pluckipg OF
stiff and gray hairs in between. Good
dvepg is performed with a comb brush.
and requires great patience. Women are
the best workers at this. as their touch is
more delicate than mans. An entire
day is necessary to properly dye skin.
The process of dipping skin into the
dye works harm to the hairs and
materially Injuries the skin AZ vet
Americans have not perfected the art of
dyeing and dressing. and the London peo-
pie have most all of that business. although
firm in Albany and another in Br, oklyp
do very good work. and are steadily i'm
proving. Dealers say there is no doubt
that the time will soon come when dveing
and dressing will be done here as well as
in England
Manufacturers here can manipulate 9TH
er skins with better results than the Lon
doner>. Only about 700 out of 1000 skins
can be used after dressing. When the
dressed skin arrives here the manufactur-
er stretches it and nails it to board with
the tur inward, and search for imperfec-
tons is made. These can only be discov
cred on the skin side, and it takes keen
and experienced eye to find most of the
blemishes. They are generally show in
minute. almost imperceptable discolorings
of the skin. which. if not Immediately cut
out.will extend and rot the fur above them
until the hairs drop out. Seal fur must
have healthy skin. When discovered
these spots are cut out and skillful hands
are set TO work TO sew up the incision. Few
men can do this properly. Often Gu, of
six inches long has to be made to get rid
of a spot not much larger than nails
head. To bring the pieces together a, N
without patching and without visible seam
requires the utmost delicacy After this
is done apaper pattern is placed on The
skin and it is cut accordingly Then the
skin is finished and lined. and the garment
is ready.
1t is stated that there were never so
many inferior skins on the market as at
the present time. Thousands of seals are
caught on the coasts of China and Japan
and the skins sent to London for dressing.
These are of the same shape and general
order IS the Alaska seals. but they do not