AQUATIC rilODUCTrf IN AKTS AND INi3lJSTKIES. 181 



The lii<l(> of the belug'a, or wliito w]ial<% is one of the best of all skins 

 for IcathoT pnTj)os(»s, on account of its durahility, sti'ongtli, and pli- 

 ability. It is sold as porpoise leather, and probal)ly *20(),0()0 worth 

 of tanned hides are marketed annually. All ij^-ator .skins are also 

 obtained in larg-e (quantities, and owin,i>- to the peculiarity of their 

 inarkiuf^s, are used entirely as fancy leather. Tanned walrus hides, 

 especially the thick ones, are in great demand for polishing- wheels 

 and other mechanical purposes, and about $100,000 worth are sold 

 annually. Among the aquatic skins used to a less extent for leather 

 purposes may be mentioned sea-lion, porjjoise, sea-elephant, and a 

 very large variety of fish skins, especially those of sharks. 



Of the hard substances existing in the form of shells, bones, scales, 

 etc., shells are by far tlie most important. Nearly, if not (piite, 

 1,000,000 tons are secured annually in the United States, consisting 

 princii^ally of the shells of oysters, clams, river mussels, and a very 

 much smaller quantity of other varieties. A fair valuation of these 

 at the places of consumption would doubtless amount to |;1, 500,000; 

 to this should be added about $000,000 as the value of pearls secured 

 during the last year in the Mississipj)i Valley and elsewhere. The 

 value of the shells secured outside of the United States, i^rincipally 

 mother-of-pearl shells, amounts to $5,000,000 or $6,000,000 annually, 

 and the pearls secured sell for nearly an eqnal amount. Pearls are 

 not obtained in the seas in such large quantities as formerly, but their 

 value is greatlj^ increased. The manufacture of mother-of-pearl and 

 sweet-water shell in the form of buttons, buckles, knife-handles, 

 pistol-stocks, etc., gives emplojnnent to nearly 10,000 i:)ersons in this 

 countiy and to probably three times that number in Europe and 

 elsewhere. 



The jdeld of whalebone in the United States fisheries is less than 5 

 per cent as much as it was 50 years ago, but the reduced yield has 

 been largely counterbalanced by the increase in value per pound. 

 The product iu the American fisheries now ai^proximates 120,000 

 pounds each j^ear, worth $500,000, and about $150,000 worth is obtained 

 in all other parts of the world. At the present market price the total 

 value of whalebone secured in the United States fisheries since 1850 

 is not far from $200,000,000. 



Comparative!}^ little tortoise shell is produced in this counti-y, the 

 annual yield approximating $12,000 in value. The West Indies, 

 South America, Africa, East Indies, Pacific islands, etc., su[)ply 

 probably $500,000 worth each year, much of which is manufactured 

 in the United States. 



Little economic use is made of fish scales, except in the jji'oduction 

 of artificial pearls and other ornamental objects. Unique and attract- 

 ive artificial flowers are made from the scales of sheepshead, tarpon, 

 drum-fish, channel bass, etc. 



Cuttlebone and coral are not produced in the United States, but 

 large qiumtities are imported into this country. 



