The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-09-13
LEATHER From FISH SKIN.
Cod and Eel Skins Used for Purses and
Gloves.


Practically all the aquatic mammals
furnish skins that can be transformed
by the skill of the tanner and the cur
rier into leather seryiceable for nnner-
ous purposes and the list Of the species
Of fish that are available for this pur-
pose Is being eNtcuded. OF course, the
sea animals can hardly be considered
as being in competition with the do
nestle animals which furnish the worlds
leather, but the special uses to which
the skins Of the former are being put,
particularly in the increasing fondness
of the public for fancy feathers, Is OPEN
ing up market Of Importance. In the
case Of seal leather, Of which $2,000,000
Il year il disposed, we have an article
Of common use; its durability and
choice grain make 1t higher in price than
calf skin. The hide of the beluga or
white whale il another skin Of value,
its strength, durability and pliability
allowing variety of commercial uses,
not the least of which ID its substitute
ton for porpoise leather. 1T is mar
keted to an extent Of 100000 annu-
ally.
Alligator skins are still obtainable IN
large quantities, although the time IN
not distant when the present yearly OUT
put, measured BY 100000, will be con-
siderabIy reduced Tanned walrus hides,
and especially the thick ones, are in
great demand for polishing wheels and
other mechanical purposes, and probably
$I50,000 worth II sold annually
These are the only Aquatic feathers
which at present have an established po.
sition and fairly constant price in
the markets Besides these, there are
some 30 varieties used In small quanti-
ties, among which may be mentioned
sen lion porpoise, sea elephant, nanatee
OF dugong, water moccasin, frog, otter.
beaver tail, muskrat and d variety Of
tishskins. The art Of the tanner has
been 50 developed that the preparation
OF some Of these skins In imitation
Of others is BIZ no means difficult
process. The hides OF the walrus, sea
lion, sea elephant. etc, are generally
so damaged by the animals fighting
among themselves, and from other
causes, that, while the raw pelts may
be abundant and cheap enough, II i
difficult to secure them sufficiently free
from defect to permit of their use as
fancy feathers While there is much
genuine leather Of these animals on the
market, the great bnlk sold under those
names Is made from sealskins, which
are comparatively free from the obiec-
tions noted, and can be used to initiate
these feathers, the tanning and curry
ing being so modified a. to develop the
peculiar grain desired
The skins Of fish are generally glutin-
Gus and soluble in water, but the tex
ture Of most Of them il sufficiently
firm and strong to permit o. their usc
as leather, although their employment
for practical purposes i Just becoming
extended Skins Of cusk, cod, GELS, Hat
fish and the like have been converted
into leather suitable for gloves, purses
and boot tops. etc. The tiibercnIar
skins Of many sharks, rays, and allied
fishes are largely employed under var
ious names for polishing purposes and
covering boxes, sword grips, etc. All
81 these miscellaneous FISH slSins are
valued principally because Of their PEI
cuIiar grain or marking ard are tanned
50 as 10 bring their grain into promi
hence. Their use is principally in small
articles, AZ belts. pocketbooks, and tie
like Recently they have been applied
to the artistic bindingof books, planned
at the suggestion Of George +. Kunz.
Beautiful effects have been secured BY
the use Of yariously colored sharkskins,
polished 10 smooth surface and FREE
quently inlaid with some other material.
Baltimore American.