320 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OB^ FISH AND FISHERIES. 



further descri])od on page 291. It is next dampened with cold salt 

 water and allowed to thus remain over night. The next morning it is 

 stretched lengthways and crosswaj^s and partly dried, when it is ready 

 for the leathering process. It is well rubbed with butter, or some 

 other animal grease, and placed with others in a tramping machine, 

 where it is worked for hours. On removal the skins are revolved for 

 three or four hours with a quantit}" of hard-wood sawdust in a cleaning 

 drum, under which there is steam heat or a charcoal tire. Next they 

 are placed in tubs with a quantity of sawdust, where they are tramped 

 for about three hours by barefooted workmen and on removal are 

 thoroughly stretched. The leather side of the pelts is dampened over 

 night and then shaved down to a uniform thickness as in case of beaver 

 skins. (See p. 311.) A skillful workman can shave 30 or 40 otter pelts 

 in a day. The skins are then stretched, dried, and placed for a second 

 time in tubs with hard-wood sawdust and tramped for two or three 

 hours, then removed, stretched again, and returned for two or three 

 hours' further tramping, and then the fur is straightened out with a 

 fine steel comb. The skins now receive a thorough beating with rat- 

 tans to remove everv vestige of sawdust and to lighten up the fur. 

 If they have been unhaired, they go to the workman who removes all 

 scattering hairs by means of a broad-bladed knife. 



The methods of dressing otter furs have been greatly improved in 

 this country in recent j'-ears, and the reputation of American workmen 

 in this particular is preeminent. Otter skins having coarse overhairs 

 are greatly improved in appearance by plucking, as the fur is 

 extremely soft and dense. When plucked, the fur is used either 

 natural or dyed various shades of brown. A few skins are clipped. 

 This fur is very durable, the leather being strong and fine-grained. In 

 the natural state choice otter makes rich trimmings for seal sacques; 

 and the plucked fur, both plain and dyed, is used for caps, gloves, capes, 

 and garments. The skins are also used for coat collars and storm coats, 

 more especially in Europe. In Scotland manv are used in making the 

 characteristic sporrans. 



During recent years otter has been extensively dj-ed in imitation of 

 the fashionable fur-seal, being cheaper than the latter, and when care- 

 fulh^ and newly prepared can be distinguished onh^ by experts. The 

 price of good otter skins and the cost of dyeing the same is so great 

 that these dyed skins have cost nearly as much as fur-seal. This has 

 retarded their popularity, but with the advancing price of fur-seal 

 dyed otter will doubtless find a larger market. In appearance it is 

 the equal of seal skin and its wearing qualities are excellent. It is 

 desirable to dye otter skins while in the raw state, as the grease pre- 

 vents the d3^e from penetrating and injuring the leather, which would 

 be weakened if the dye wore applied after the skin had l^een dressed. 

 Only the heav^'-furrcd skins are selected for this pui'pose. 



