The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-28

.hinefon. D. G. Modern |
.s<. n helping to convert an
7 .1.ss 4 mans traditional enemies.
shark. into his serviceable |
1s..i. according to q bulletin
49, he washington, D. c., bead
.s,tery ofthe National Geographic |
.siseady sharks are contributing !
eelstine, and oil for many
s,soees. to appease the ever more
.rlsr needs OF mankind, and now
~ "a being experimental with
= probable source OF shoe
40 many years ago the cattle
!. .hs western plains and on the
s,ms averaged about one animal
4 sech person in the United States.
=, foday there is not much more
~, hali beef animal for each in
.sshitant Of the country, and the
s.nort OF hides is negligible.
sTha U. s. bureau of standards
~ completed arrangements to test
a. comparative durability OF upper
issther made from sharkskin as
semuared with that from calfskin
"a covhide. The cooperation Of
IA shoe manufacturers has been
cMained in the making Of the nee
Assary shoes for the tests.
aSharks are regarded as the most
,.nacious, bloodthirsty and cruel OF
III the inhabitants of the sea. all
u the known species, with four ex-
reptions, being flesh eating They
are long and cylindrical, the body
terminating in a sharp snout in
front and long and iiattened tail
behind. The mouth is placed cross
wise and usually Is on the lower
surface OF the head, some distance
behind the tip of the snout. Almost
III sharks are marine, though
many occasionally follow their
nrey into the mouths Of rivers.
Their teeth are arranged in formid-
able triangular tiers, the first or
outer row alone being used while
the rest are turned back out of the
vay When those Of the first row
are lost, those Of the next row take
their place.
"The fms, with their abundant
cartilage, form the basis Of the
supply of gelatine in China The
livers are taken for the oil they
contain.
Long Used in Polishing.
AT one time large quantities Of
the hides, cleaned but not tanned,
we're used for polishing wood,
ivory and metal. With improve
ments in methods of preparation Of
sandpaper and emery, these have
largely replaced animal hides.
Small quantities of certain classes
Of skin are still in demand among
cabinetmakers, and have other
special uses, as in the manufacture
Of optical fittings. Peculiar mark
ings, such as transverse bands or
elongated spots, and the character
Of the small, close set, variously
sculptured lime like particles which
cover the skin, have adapted some
to uses for sword grips, card cases,
Jewel boxes and other novelties
The demand for sword grips is at
present unusually large and diff
cult to supply with satisfactory ma
tcrial.
within the last year American
tanners have experimental in the
production of feathers from these
hides with excellent results, and
there now exists a demand for
large quantities of raw materials.
In tensile strength. feathers tested
compare favorably with those made
from mammal hides, and the mar
ket for these products appears as
sured. Special seines, 600 feet long
and Is feet deep, with a four-inch
! mesh of extra heavy Irvine, are
J constructed to capture these fish
0ne crew, fishing off the southern
coast, has captured 200 sharks i'll q
DAY. A hide will produce from II
70 40 square feet Of leather suitable
Tor shoes. Five hundred skins a
week are said to be handled at one
nnnery. the output of which is tc
De greatly increased during the
next year.
The meat Of the shark is white
and edible, resembling halibut. II
y canned and dried for shipment t.
the markets."