212 ANIMAL RESOURCES AND FISHERIES OF UNITED STATES. 



liOathcr |>re|>arcd Iroiai iiiaBBiEBial Hkin«<>. 



Series of different leathers illustrating the uianufticture of gloves. 



Tlie folldwiuj; accouut of the glovo trade iu North America is from tbo 

 pen of Mr. S. G. Hutchinson: 



" The manufacture of gloves and mittens from leather was started in 

 Fulton County, New York (according to best information), in the year 

 1809, by peoiilefrom Connecticut, who first engaged in the manufucturo 

 of tinware and iu exchanging their tinware for the products of the coun- 

 try. They thus obtained deer-pelts, which they learned to tan according 

 to the Indian process, and, using paper patterns, cut and made them into 

 rough mittens and gloves. Subsequently they learned a better process 

 of tanning, and also have made great improvements in manufacturing 

 gloves; and from apparently insignificant and accidental beginnings has 

 originated an industry which is estimat(!d to produce over §4,000,000 

 worth of manufactured goods, and which business has never as yet been 

 successfully transplanted elsewhere. 



"The skins used in the manufacture of gloves and mittens are the dif- 

 ferent varieties of deer-skins and sheep and lamb skins. The deer-skins 

 are gleaned from the entire United States, Mexico, Central and South 

 America, and Africa, and there is as much difference iu the quality of the 

 skins from the difierent countries as in the climate of the countries or 

 localities from which they come. The heaviest and most valuable skius 

 come from under the equator. 



" Sheei)-skins are extensively used in the manufacture of gloves as 

 well as deer-skins. It is estimated that over 100,000 dozen are used an- 

 nually. The quality of these varies as much as deer-skins, and depends 

 as much upon the section of country from which they come, the coarse- 

 wool skins making the best leather. A part of the sheep-skiiis aro 

 dressed in a similar manner to the deer-skins, and are finished to resem- 

 ble l)uckskin. Many sheep and lamb skins are by a very difierent pro- 

 cess made into what is called kid leather, the lamb-skins, esjiecially, 

 making a very nice glove : in fact, some of the lined fur-trimmed glovt^is 

 made from this kid leather excel any of foreign manufacture. 



" To give a more definite idea of where the deer-skins come from, I will 

 give a little item of statistics of arrivals of deer-skins at the port of 

 New York in the years 18G8 to 1872, inclusive: 



"WTience. 



Central America 



Para 



An^ohtiira 



I'lU'ito, Cal 



Sisal 



ilontliii'ns 



Vt'i-u Cruz 



Campcacby , 



Total 



1868. 



Povndg. 



2r>i, 200 



28H, 500 



100, 000 



CO, 000 



105, 000 



W, 800 



30, 000 



24, 000 



1)23, 000 



18C0. 



Pounds. 



240, 000 



214,900 



8!l. COO 



210, 300 



C2, 000 



52. 300 



20, 700 



12, 500 



017, 300 



1870. 



Pound*. 



252, 900 



1H5, 700 



]7:i, 000 



ll.">, 000 



84,000 



Gl, 500 



19, 000 



19,400 



900,000 



1871. 



Pmtndt. 



230, 700 



1.50, 900 



i:>l, .500 



31,500 



67,700 



57,000 



19,500 



21,000 



736, 700 



1872. 



Pounds. 



249, 000 



141,800 



65,000 



154, 400 



12,5, .500 



62,500 



21,000 



12,500 



832,200 



" And to give you something of an idea of how these deer-skins are con- 

 verted into leather ready for cutting into gloves, I will copy a poem 

 written by Horace Sprague in 1K'»1). However, the oi>eration has been 

 somewhat changed and nmch improved since: 



"'And b(> it mine in bri«'f to eoinjirehend, 

 From tlie inee|ition to the final end, 

 Through every proioss, how the routine moves 

 From unwrnught hides to manufactured gloves. 



