The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-11-25
CITY MAY HAVE
LEATHER FACTORY
Good Prospects for an establishments
Here That Will Use Shark Hides.

That Pensacola may have a factor.
which will produce leather from sharl
hides seems possibility of the neal
future. Such factories have alread,
been established in Morehead. n. c.
and TT. Myers, Fla, and it is under.
stood that other companies are to bt
! formed throughout hhe country, Will
| good prospects of the establishment
i of one in Pensacola.
| The manufacture of leather from
shark skins has been the dream oil
| inventors and the subject of scientific
research for many years. Endeavors
in this field of investigation received
new impetus during the progress OF
the world war, when the increasing
shortage Of the available supply OF
animal leather became apparent. De-
spite the fact that many expert tan
ners, encouraged by the United States
department of commerce. failed to Sc
cure satisfactory results at that time
difficulties that were then battling
have been solved, and today leather
is manufactured from the skins OF
sharks, sawfish, rays, porpoise, black
fish and other sea creatures.
Sea leather is not a laboratory ex-
pertinent 1t has stood every test and
has proven superior to animal hides in
beauty of finish, durability and tensile
strength. This leather is today being
produced on commercial scale and
leading leather goods manufacturers
are using it for making shoes, travel
ing bags, pocket books, belts, razor
straps, furniture coverings, gloves, etc,
and it is in great demand by the
leather trade
A remarkable feature of this new in
dustry is that no part of the sea crea-
ture need go to waste. From the livers
of sharks, rays, sawfish, etc, oil is OBJ
tanned that has medicinal properties,
and even in crude state this oil sells
for 81 gallon.
The flesh is converted into fertilizer
AS a fertilizer. this product is rich in
ammonia and phosphoric acid; anal
Uses show that it contains over Is per
cent of ammonia.
Shark fins are shipped to the orient
and bring an average of 20 cents a
pound. Turtles and certain other edi-
BILE fish, like the sturgeon. which are
caught in the nets, are sold at good
prices.
Each of the fishing station at More
head, N c. and TT. Myers, Fla, has
plant for the manufacture of oil and
fertilizer. At these stations the skins
are removed, and shipped to a tannery
located in New Jersey, where they are
converted into leather
The reduction plants have COM
bined capacity Of about 1000 gallons
of oil per day, and about so tons of
fertilizer per hour. The tannery has a
capacity of 500 skins daily Of an aver
age size of 10 square feet, making a
total of approximately 5000 square feet
of leather per day. But as many skins
yield Splits the capacity is really
much, larger than the figures given.
It is no exaggeration to say that the
supply is inexhaustible. The gulf
abounds in shark and other sea mon
sters, used for making leather, and the
shortage Of animal leather makes the
demand certain and steady,
Income from 1000 Sharks.
One thousand sharks per day, aver
aging Z feet long, or about 250 pounds
gross weight, each viii produce:
Nine square feet of leather average.
per shark equal to 5000 square feet
at $125 per square foot (sold in colors
up to $3.50 per square foot at no addi
tional cost, S11250.
Three gallons liver oil, equal to 5000
gallons at 81, $4,000.
Sixty-two and one-half pounds fer
tilizer (dry fish scrap, equal to $4,000
pounds, or 81 tons, on a basis of 10
ammonia units per ton, at $3.50 per
unit, S112.50 per ton, $4,000.
Two pounds fms per shark, total
. 900 pounds, at so cents pound, $1,000. |
Gross daily income, $1S,75o.
Producing Cost on 1000 Sharks.
Leather, 900 square feet at Is cents, |
81, $50
Oil, $500 gallons, $3.50.
Fertilizer, 81 tons at SO, 1910.
Producing cost, s1,910.
Add 100 per cent additional for over |
head. $1,910.
Gross producing costs, $3.50.
Net daily income, S14,930.