Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-07-08
SHARK LEATHER
Finds n Ready Mnrket-On IL Valuable
Also

Modern science is helping to CONVEX
another of mans traditional enemies, the
shark, into his serviceable friend
according to a bulletin from The Wash
ington, d. c., headquarters of the
National Geographic society.
Already sharks are contributing food.
gelatines and oil for many purposes. to
appease the ever more complex needs of
mankind, and now they are being expert
mented with as a probable source of
shoe leather.
Not many years ago the cattle on the
western plains and on the farms averaged
about one animal to each person in the
United States. but to-day there is not
much more than half a beef animal for
each inhabitant of the country, and the
import of hides is negligible.
The United States Bureau of Standards
has completed arrangements to test the
comparative durability Of upper leather
made from sharkskin as compared with
that of calfskin and cowhide. The CO.
operation of the shoe manufacturers has
been obtained in the making of the neces-
sary shoes for the tests,
Sharks are regarded as the most
rapacious, bloodthirsty and cruel of all
the inhabitants of the sea, all of the
known species, with four exceptions, being
fesh-eating. They are long and cylin-
drical, the body terminating in n sharp
snout in front and a long and fattened
tail behind. The mouth is placed cross
wise and usually is on the lower surface
of the head, some distance behind the tin
of the snout. Almost all sharks are
marine, though many occasionally follow
their prey into the mouths Of rivers.
Their teeth are arranged in formidable
triangular tiers. the first or outer row
alone being used while the rest are
turned back out of the way. When those
of the first row are lost, those of the
next row take their place.
THE fins, with their abundant cartilage,
form the basis of the supply of gelatine
in China.
'The livers are taken for the oil they
contain. They are placed in water and
cooked either by steam or by fire. and
then the oil is skinned off. In former
times they we're 'sun-dried'-placed in
| water and allowed to stand in the sun for
several days. The quality produced by
this method (Which is still pursued in
Labrador and Ncwfoundland) is much bet
ter than that obtained by the more mod
ern methods, but the difference in ouan-
tity is considerable. Quantity and quality
vary considerably with the season. The
ia - VI Nv III va Sll tdlHt SOAP
making, FISH glue. paints and for medici-
nal purposes.
one time large quantities Of the
hides, cleaned but not tanned. were used
for polishing wood, ivory and metal.
With improvement in methods of prep
aration of sandpaper and emery, these
have largely replaced animal hides.
Small quantities of certain classes of skin
are still in demand among cabinetmak-
ers, and have other special uses, as in
the manufacture of optical fittings.
Peculiar markings. such as transverse
bands or elongated spots, and the char.
acter of the small. close set, variously
sculptured lime-like particles which cover
the skin. have adapted some to use for
sword grips, card cases. jewel boxes and
other novelties. The demand for sword
grips is at present unusually large and
difficult to supply with satisfactory
material.
within the last year American tanners
have experimental in the production oil
feathers from these hides with excellent
results, and there now exists a demand
for large quantities of raw materials. Ir
tensile strength, feathers tested compare
favorably with those made from mamma
hides. and the market for these product.
appears assured. Special seines, coo fee
long and is feet. with "A four-inch mest
of extra heavy Irvine are constructed tc
capture these fish. one crew, fishing of
the southern coast, has captured On
sharks in a day. a hide will produce
from 10 to 20 square feet of leather suit
able for shoes. Five hundred skins {
week are said to be handled at one tan
merry, the output of which is to be great,
increased during the next year.
The meat of the shark is white anc
edible, resembling halibut. 1t is canned
and dried for shipment to the markets,