The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1918-12-05
EXCELLENT LEATHER
MADE FROM SKINS
Of Sharks, Porpoises and Other
Sea Monsters Shown at Fair
A NEW FLORIDA~INDUSTRY
Of Unlimited Possibilities That
Will Bring Down the Cost Of
Leather and Shoes.-Ocean and
Gulf Contain Materials.

Inc WOrlu war UdS Decu TeSpOll-
sible for many new things in the
United States, and Florida is COM
ing in for its share of these inven-
tions, resulting from necessity, as
evidenced by several strange ex-
hibits at the state fair
One of the most remarkable of
these was rather fully described
in the Times Union of Thursday,
and as a result, the exhibits of
feathers made from the hides of
shark, porpoise, sword fish and
other deep sea monsters, in con-
nection with the Lee county dis
play, was the center of attraction
all day Thursday, and the at
tendants were literally lombard
ed with questions and intense in
terest was taken by the crowds in
the production of this new leath-
er, which promises to become
decided factor in the shoe and bag
industry of the country.
Now that this industry has been
fully recognized and it's value to
the world demonstrated in a man.
ner that is satisfying, there is no
reason why it should not be devel-
Oped into one of the important in
dustries of the country. The fact
that it originated in Florida and
that this state offers unlimited
facilities for its development, is a
matter for congratulation to ev-
erybody interested in the future
of the state, and it also calls for
the interest and cooperation of all
civic bodies to assist in making it
an industry Of the greatest i'm
portance and one that will adver-
tise Florida far and wide.
The forerunner to this industry
was the curing of alligator hides
and the making of them into bags
of all kinds; but that has never
1 reached a stage of great import.
ance, because of the limited num-
Der of alligators available. But
he. e is an inexhaustible source of
material, as the ocean is filled
with the big fish of various spe-
cies that will furnish millions of
dollars worth of leather, and the
catching of it is not at all diff
cult nor expensive. With a sea-
coast of nearly twelve hundred
miles, Florida alone can catch
hundreds of thousands of these
immense fish, which weigh from
300 to 1000 pounds each, and the
hides from them will have a won
derful value and, at the same
time, the leather supply will be so
fully met that the price of shoes
will be brought down to some
thing like normal.
When it is considered that these
fish can be taken from the deep
without previous cost of raising,
and that much of their flesh and
fats can be utilized in by-prod-
ucts, and that the leather obtain
ed from their hides becomes of e.
quail, if not superior value to that
obtained from the cattle, which
have been raised at great expense,
it is easily seen that this new in
dustry is one that should prove
prolific and profitable and will
eventually become of worldwide
Importance.
The development of the indus
try in Florida should be encourag-
ed to the limit, as it will eventu-
ally mean source of large in
come to the state. The catching
of The big fish will provide en-
ployment for thousands of ex-
perts, who will be well paid for
their services. The skinning of
the fish and the work of utilizing
the flesh and other products, will
require other thousands Of ex-'