The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-01-20
ABOUT sEALsKIN sACQuEs.
Interesting Facts About These Useful aud
Drcssy Garments.

SealslSin was first utilized as a garment
in 1867 at London. Forty years ago tho
skin was considered to have little value
The first garments made were little capes
that covered the shoulders. In 1874 jackets
began to be made, but they were without
any fit or style except in the rich appear
ance of the goods. In 1876 sacques were
made to ct, and in 1880 tho first long New
markets We're 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 fashionable wrap of the day
The process of manufacture is interest
ing. The raw skin goes to London, where
it is dyed and dressed. This labor consists
of two dyeings, with n plucking of stiff and
gray hairs in between. Good dying is per-
formed with comb and brush, and re-
quires great patience. Women are the best
workers at this, as their touch is more deli
cate than mans. An entire day is neces-
sary to properly dye skin. The process
| OF dipping skin in to the dye works harm
to the hairs and materially injuries the akin.
Only about 700 ont of every 1000 skins
can be used after dressing. When the
dressed skin arrives the manufacturer
stretches it and nails it to board, with the
fur inward, and search for imperfections
is made. These can only be discovered on
the skin side, and it takes keen and e.
perienced eye to find most of the blemishes.
They are generally shown in minute, almost
mperceptible discolorings of the skin,
which, if not Immediately cut out will ex-
lend and rot the fur above them until the
hairs drop out. When discovered these
spots are cut out and skillful hands are Sc,
to work 10 sew up the incisions Often a
cut six inches long has to be made to get
rid of q spot not much larger than a nails
head. To bring the pieces together again,
without patching and without visible seam,
requires the utmost delicacy. After this is
done paper pattern is placed on the skin
and il is cut accordingly. Then the skin is
finished and lined, and the garment is
ready
II is stated that there We're never 80 many
inferior skins on the market us at the pres
ent time. Thousands of seals ara 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 as
the Alaska seals but they do not wear on
the edges, and they turn red aud soon-begin
to look shabby.
II is estimated that SOME of the sacques
can be sold at profit as follows Made
of Lobos Island SKINS 500 Japan (l,nown
to the trade as cape y and China, 1875 !;
Victoria Island, 800, and Copper Island,
1925. They are bought by the New York
manufacturers ut from $l3 to SIG per skin,
after being dyed and dressed. 1t requires
from three TO four skins to complete
sacque, according to the size. The English
dressed Alaska skins cost from $40 to $50,
dyed and dressed, aud the cost of manu-.
featuring q sacque is between 1925 and 1886.
| Then there are the limitations of sealskin in
! plush and kindred materials, but these are
not so popular as formerly .-NcsO YorA
Star