384 Department of Conservation of Louisiana 



the necessary chemical compounds and ingredients are 

 driven into the pores of the skin; the term"kicking" was 

 evidently derived from the ancient methods employed by 

 the Indians, who had a habit of treading their skins with 

 their feet when tanning. 



After the muskrat skin has passed through the kicking- 

 process it is split through the belly lengthwise, which leaves, 

 the pelt practically square of form and quite different from 

 the "cased" appearance it has when handled as a rew pelt. 

 This splitting leaves intact the back of the pelt, which con- 

 tains the best part of the fur, and facilitates the handling 

 of the skin in all subsequent processes. 



Next the muskrat skins must be cleaned and for this 

 operation they are placed in a hug drum, which is re- 

 volved at a given speed. The skin has now been completely 

 dressed with the exception of a "fleshing" process which' 

 is not done at this stage of the operations so as to permit 

 superflous layers of flesh and grease to remain on the skin 

 and act as absorbents for impurities and superfluities which 

 attach themselves to the skins during the subsequent dyeing 

 processes. After being drummed, the skins are turned over 

 to skilled help, who mend all natural rips and who cut off" 

 paws and frayed edges to eliminate possibilities of tearing 

 later on. A number of skins, during this examination, are 

 rejected, and those determined as suitable for Hudson seal 

 are passed on for further treatment. 



The next treatment consists of "plucking." This con- 

 sists of placing the skins before an odd-looking machine 

 which has a whirling wheel equipped with a circular blade. 

 This machine removes from the pelage such guard hairs 

 that would otherwise detract from the appearance of the- 

 fur. The skins are next "sheared." Shearing is done by 

 special machines equipped with large blades running length- 

 wise and they shear the hairs of the fur side of the musk- 

 rat pelt so that all will be of a uniform depth. This being 

 a very important operation, the blades of this machine are 

 set and gauged to a nicety so that, while the fur is cut down, 

 a sufficient amount of fur of a desirable softness and depth, 

 remains. 



