The Tanning and Bkaying of Skins. 59 



Several decomposition methods are in use. The time required 

 for each is from one to two days in summer ; longer in winter. A 

 dried skin, which must be thorouodily soaked in water as a preliminary 

 treatment, requires long^er than a o<reen one. 



The Bag Method. _ — This is used for comparatively small skins, 

 such as those from duiker and other small buck. The green, undried 

 skin is rolled up, flesh side in, placed in a bag, and left until the hair 

 can be pulled easily, at which time the skin must be removed at once 

 from the bag. After the first day the hide must be watched carefully 

 to prevent decomposition proceeding too far. 



llie Earth Method. — This.i-s used ])rincipally for large skins, but 

 sometimes also for small dried ones from which it is diificult to 

 remove the hair. A small plot of ground is selected in a place 

 exposed to the sun, free from ant nests, and preferably with sandy 

 loam soil. An excavation about six inches deep and as large as the 

 skin is made. The skin, which has been previously soaked until it is 

 thoroughly wet, is spread out, hair side up, in the bottom of the 

 excavation. The earth that was removed from the hole is then 

 replaced on top of the skin and made fairly firm. The earth must be 

 kept moist, so if the soil is dry water is added as required. 



At the end of the first day a small opening is made and a test 

 made by pulling the hair at the edge of the hide. The belly hair is 

 the firmest ; if it comes off easily the rest will also come away readily 

 as a rule. After the first day tests are made at frequent intervals to 

 avoid leaving the skin until it is damaged: Care must be taken to 

 have the bottom of the hole as level as possible. If depressions are 

 present the parts of the skin lying in them are very liable to go bad. 

 The damaged parts will be found when the hair is being scraped off, 

 a« the hide will burst in such places. 



Manure Heap Method. — The procedure is much the same as in 

 the earth method. Old horse manure that is warm and slightly damp 

 is used. The manure heap is leveled, the wet skin spread out, hair 

 side up, and covered to a depth of six to eight inches with more 

 manure, which is then made firm with the spade. At the end of 

 twenty-four hours examinations of the skin are begun. 



This method is used by some people, but is open to several objec- 

 tions. Aside from the fact that a very offensive smell is set up, the 

 method is very likely to produce a blotched hide and a damaged one. 

 It is difficult to prevent depressions being formed in the manure, the 

 hair comes off' in some spots sooner than in others, consequently the 

 skin is liable to be left in the heap too long. About the only time 

 when the manure heap is preferable to the hole in the earth is during 

 cold winter weather. 



The Bran and Water Alethod. — This is adaptable for any size of 

 skin. The hide is simply immersed in a slopjiy mass of wheat bran 

 and water. As in the other methods, tests are made at the end of the 

 first day to see if the hair pulls readily. A paraffin tin will hold a 

 skin the size of that of a springl)ok ; for larger skins a tub or similar 

 vessel should be used. 



The bran and water method is probably the best of any of the 

 decomposition methods that have been described in this paper. Not 

 only is there less of the objectionable smell produced than with the 

 other methods — there is also less danger of the hide being damaged. 



