Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-30

the sea (f seals be excepted) have
been almost wholly neglected. No
body seems to have thought of the
oceans as source of materials for
the purpose. And yet, if all the land
animals ceased to exist tomorrow. the
marine fishes could easily supply the
needs of the human race for garments,
including hats and shoes.
Shoes May Cost $50.
The price of clothing, like that OF
other necessaries, is rapidly going up.
Month by month, the everyday house
wife finds herself obliged to pay more
for dress goods, for stockings, for ev-
erything she has to buy i'm order that
she and her children may be proper
ly clad. A manufacturer of boots re-
Gently made the startling prediction
that before long a pair Of good shoes
would cost $50.
But this will not happen If the
fishes of the sea are called upon to
contribute leather. The fisheries bu-
reau says that most excellent shoes,
durable and waterproof. can be made
from the hides of sharks. And sharks
Of species available for the purpose
are almost unimaginably plentiful.
They can be easily caught, and their
skins delivered to tanners. in numbers
unlimited.
Shark Skin Leather No Novelty.
Shark-skin leather is no new thing.
though uses for 1t have hitherto been
somewhat restricted. Under the name
of "shagreen," it has long been EN-
ployed as n material for covering in
strument cases, for sword hits and
for certain other purposes demanding
great durability. Such being the fact.
its availability for subsequently,
in view of it's waterproof quality-is
deemed obvious.
To say that a leather famine is in
prospect is to describe the present
situation by no means too strongly.
Manufacturers of shoes, harness and
all sorts of leather goods are looking
anxiOusly in all directions for new
sources of possible supply. Con-
sumption Is increasing, and-relative-
ly, at all events-the number of hides
produced is steadily diminishing.
Land animals are insufficient In
number. We must. therefore, look to
the sea. which (if the view of the fish,
cries bureau is to be accepted) Of
fers inexhaustible supplies. feathers
for purposes demanding durability and
.long-wearing quality can be furnished
by the multitudinOus tribes of sharks.
| For garments other than shoes the ma
rine fishes afford skins which, accord.
other qualities, are utilizable as sub
stitutes for fabrics of wool and other
woven materials.
A company has been newly organ
lied with government approvaD tC
hunt the white whale for leather
This small species of cetacean. wher
full-grown, is 80 feet. long and weigh:
about 1000 pounds. Leather made
from its hide is durable, strong and
pliable. 1t is known today i'm the mar
/ kct as pDTpolSt itdtuci, put IL has
never been utilized to any important
extent. The aforementioned com
pany proposes it as material for the
tops of women's shoes.
Meanwhile the fisheries bureau !:
trying some very novel experiment:
that have to do with the utilization
of the tails and fins of fish (suitabl!
dyed and otherwise prepared) for thu
adornment of women's hats. II he
lieves that these appendages might h
employed most satisfactorily for tn,
decoration of such headgear-especial
" in view of the present-day restric
tons on the use of birds skins ant
feathers. When ready. the bureau pro
poses to make an exhibition of fish
tail ornamented hats, in the hope tina
fashion. always eager for something
novel and striking. may accept tn
idea.