56 JOURNAL or THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. — JuLT, 1922. 



When the front legs are reached, work the fingers under them, 

 between the hide and the flesh, and pull the legs out of the skin. 

 When being pulled over the head the skin will stick fast when the 

 ears are reached. If it is desired to remove the ears with the hide, 

 make a cut an inch or more behind the point where the skin appears 

 to stick. This will cut the ears loose at their bases. Similarly, when 

 the eyes are reached, also make the cut a short distance behind the 

 point where the skin appears to stick fast. 



After removal, the hide is split down the middle line of the 

 belly. In skinning largo animals the skin is split down the belly as 

 soon as operations are started, i.e. before it is removed from the 

 carcass. 



Skins from animals killed in winter are, as a general rule, more 

 valuable than from those killed in summer. Not only is the fur and 

 hair better, but it is less likely to fall out after the curing process is 

 completed. To avoid deterioration of the hide it should be removed 

 from the body as soon as possible after an animal is killed, especially 

 in summer. 



Pelts from animals that have been poisoned are of less value than 

 those of animals killed by other methods. The poison appears to 

 have some deleterious effect on the hide, and, in addition, the animal 

 generally lies for a comparatively long period before it is picked up 

 and skinned. 



Green skins must not be allowed to lie undried too long or the 

 hair will fall out. They should be either tanned at once or they 

 may be salted and dried, and the tanning and braying done at a later 

 date. Before the tanning mixture is apolied, dry skin should be 

 softened with warm water. If the hide is covered with blood and 

 dirt it should be given a good washing with soap and water, especially 

 if it is to be dry cured. 



Tanning and Curing Mixtures. 



Tanning ageats of various sorts are in use. The simjilest is a 

 mixture of common salt and alum. Some farmers make use of wild 

 plants. Others rely on proprietary preparations. Of the recipes 

 which follow, the second is one which has been recommended by the 

 United States Bureau of Biological Survey. The first and last are 

 also of American origin, but have been slightly modified. The third 

 is one which appeared several years ago in the Union Agricultural 

 Journal. 



For Very Small Skins. — This is one of the simplest kinds of 

 curing mixtures. Take 2 parts of saltpetre and 1 part of alum and 

 reduce to a powder. Saltpetre is best, but if none is on hand use 

 salt as a substitute. Eub well the flesh side of the skin with the 

 powder, taking care that every part is covered with the mixture. 

 Lay the skin away in a cool place for several hours. In cold, winter 

 weather it may be rolled up and left for a fairly long time. Next, 

 stretch it and allow it to dry a little, then scrape it, and before it is 

 entirely dry rub and twist it until it is soft. 



_ For Small to Medium Sized Skins. — This is also a fairly simple 

 recipe. It is recommended for small to medium sized skins, but it 

 could be used for fairly large ones also. A solution has an advantage 

 over a dry-curing mixture in that there is little chance of any part 

 of the skin escaping its effects. 



