44 GIANT FISHES 



actually known of its breeding habits. Captain Young has 

 recorded taking as many as 57 young from a single female. 



From a commercial point of view this Shark is of considerable 

 value, as its skin is in great demand for leather. It is very 

 tough, and has a tensile strength of from 6 to 10 times that 

 of ox-hide. The demand for shark leather has shown a 

 steady and continuous rise in recent years, and it may be of 

 interest to outline briefly the methods employed in its manu- 

 facture. It has already been pointed out that the untanned 

 skin or shagreen has for several centuries been employed for 

 various purposes, but a more general use of the hide has been 

 impossible owing to the difficulty of removing the dermal 

 denticles without damaging the skin itself. This difficulty, 

 however, has now been overcome, and it is possible to soften 

 the toughest hide so that it can be used for every purpose to 

 which the best bullock leather is put. Further, the modern 

 processes retain, not only the markings on the skin, but also 

 its remarkable wearing properties. The most important 

 articles for which shark leather is used are boots and shoes, 

 handbags, attache cases, bags of all kinds, and pocket-books. 



The sharks are usually caught by means of special nets set 

 in the water, in which they entangle their heads, but sometimes 

 capture is by baited hooks or harpoons. Skinning is a skilled 

 process, as a false cut may considerably lessen the value of 

 the hide. Further, the skin is so tough that cutting is a 

 matter of some difficulty and the keenest kniie is soon blunted. 

 Having been removed from the carcase in one piece, the 

 skin is then subjected to a process known as " beaming ", in 

 the course of which the surplus flesh is cleaned off the inner 

 side by the use of a cleaver-like knife The skin is then 

 soaked in sea water and a good coating of brine placed on the 

 inner surface. After about a week another coating of brine 

 is applied, and two weeks later a third application completes 

 the curing, and the hide is now ready for the tanner. The 

 tanning process involves the dissolving of the tissues round the 

 roots of the dermal denticles, with further treatment designed 

 to soften and finish the product. 



After removal of the skin, the remainder of the body is not 

 necessarily wasted. The liver of the Tiger Shark gives a 

 better yield of oil than that of most other kinds, and, suitably 



