The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-22
UTILIZING FISHES SKIN.
Leather Can he Produced From the
Aquatic Species.


| The Fish Commission has recently been
getting together a collection Of feathers
made from the skins of fishes and other
aquatic animals. 1t is not only Of interest
TO the curiosity seeker, but is intended
to have a very practical value, showing
incidentally what may be done with the
outer coats Of many creatures whose hides
/ are commonly esteemed worthless. Already
the worlds supply Of leather derived from
land animals does not equal the demand
so that the utmost efforts are being made
10 discover or manufacture some sort of
available substitute. but hitherto nobody
seems TO have thought of utilizing the
material afforded by creatures that live in
the water
Several kinds Of fishes have skins that
make excellent leather for some purposes.
For example salmon hide serves 50 well in
this way that the Eskimo Of Alaska make
waterproof shirts and boots out CT tin
fact even whole suits Of clothes. They also
cut jackets out Of Goldfish skins. which are
very seryiceable garments. Already frog
skins are coming into use for the mounting
Of books. where an exceptionally delicate
material for fine bindings is required Most
people do not realize now very tough the
outer coats Of some fishes are. There are
certain tribes of savages who make
breastplates out Of garfsh skins. which
pierce them. but il is impossible to chop
through the material with a Ratchet at one
blow. Together with such a breastplate is
worn a helmet Of the skin Of a porcupine
fish. which is covered with formidable
spines Fastened upon the head. it serves
not only as a protection, but 10 butt with.
The Gloucester Isinglass and Glue Com
pany recently made up some shoes from
the skins of Goldfish and cusk On the
NrsIg. in all Of aI
FISH skins are commonly worn by the ma
tives. Dogfish skin is utilized for polish
ing mackerel jigs by fishermen, and the
side OF the shark has long been recognized
as an excellent material for leather. Whip
handles the made Of shark skin. and in
strument cases are commonly covered wiki
it, u goes under the name Of shagreen.
During the war OF the Revolution. by the
way. the American soldiers, for lack Of rib
bon tied up their queues with eel skin.
Whale skin would make an admirable
! leather for some purposes, and 1t is
shame to think Of the countless thousands
Of hides Of these cetaceaus that have been
thrown away since the fishery for them
began. Porpoise leather is even now en-
ployed for razor strops. being considered
a very superior material Seal leather dyed
in a number Of different colors is included
in the Fish Commissions collection. II is
used now 70 a considerable extent in the
manufacture Of pOcketbooks. and is OBJ
tanned, o; course from the hair seal and
not from the fur bearing species. Hair
seals are still enormously plentiful in the
north Atlantic and other seas ana Il is not
difficult 70 Kill them, 50 that they afford a
very promising source Of leather supply.
Walrus leather has come into the market
recently. but il viii hardly amount to much
commercially. inasmuch as the animals are
being eNterminated rapidly.
Another kind Of leather now coming into
the market is that Of the sea elephant Up
10 within a few years ago a species OF sea
elephant was found on the Pacific Coast
ranging as far north as Lower California.
but il has been entirely eXterminated \
related species occurs in Antarctic seas,
chiefly on Kerguelan Island. and it was
driven likewise almost 10 the point Of eX-
tiuction a dozen years back So few OF
them we're left that it became Improbable
TO go after them and so they had a chance
10 increase again in numbers. Last year
vessel got a cargo OF their oil and hides,
and this season other ships are going So
10 is 10 be- presumed that the sea elephants
in that part Of the world will soon be prac-
,icaIly wiped out once more When fun
grown they weigh about 1000 pounds and
measure eighteen feet OF So in length.
The Fish Commission has also acquired
specimens OF leather made from the hide Of
the manatee-that huge aquatic beast Of
Central and South American waters, which
weighs a ton and feeds on water plants.
II is gentle intelligent and affectionate
when tanned Most commonly IL is caught
by stretching nets across the mouth Of
stream in which it is feeding. so that it
becomes eutangled. A skeleton Of d mana
tee Is worth 500 today as museum curl
osity. Naturally the feathers made from
pelts Of alligatoTs and crOcodies are in
cluded in the collection described. So also
is the skin OF the water moccosin, which is
utilized in the manufacture Of belts and
pocketbooks But fish feathers are most
interesting Of all, and it is TO their avail
ability for Industrial uses that the Fish
Commission chiefly desires to draw atten-