UTILIZATION OF THE SKINS OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 337 



manner as seal skins, and especially those of large seals. The only 

 difference in treatiiient is due to the greater size and bodj'" of the 

 former. On account of the difficult}^ in procuring sea-lion skins free 

 from scars and markings, and also the ease Avith which its peculiar 

 grain is imitated on seal leather, the great bulk of the sea-lion leather 

 on the market is prepared from seal skins. The value of the genuine 

 skins when converted into leather ranges from $2 to $12 each, accord- 

 ing to their quality and freedom from damage. 



LEATHER FROM WALRUS SKINS. 



Formerly the principal use of walrus hides in Europe was for the 

 rigging of vessels, for which it is especially adapted. For man}^ years 

 nearly all the rigging of vessels on the north coast of Norway and 

 Eussia was made of this article. The skins were also employed for 

 protecting the rigging of vessels from chafing. Later came their use 

 in northern Europe for manufacture into harness and sole leather. 



Then the thick heavy leather was adopted by silversmiths and other 

 manufacturers of bright metal objects, for removing mars and scratches 

 and to polish fine metal surfaces. The hide is particularl}^ desirable 

 for this purpose because of its peculiarly tough grain. It is usually 

 cut into circular shape, forming a wheel of solid leather, but some- 

 times a ring of leather is cemented to a wooden center by which it may 

 be attached to a revolving head or mandril. Other than that made 

 from bull neck, buffalo, or sea-lion hides, there is no satisfactory sub- 

 stitute for walrus leather for these purposes. The thickest parts of 

 the hide are the most valuable, and the demand at the present time is 

 quite large, the principal silver works of the United States and Europe 

 making use of it. The London value of an average hide suitable for 

 polishing purposes is in excess of $100. 



About 30,000 pounds of tanned walrus hides are imported into the 

 United States annually. The import value is about $25,000 and the 

 selling value after it is cut in the form of wheels is from $40,000 to 

 $50,000. The quantity used in Europe is probably double the amount 

 of the importations into this country. A small quantity of walrus 

 hide has been tanned on the Pacific coast of the United States, but 

 the quality of the output is reported as inferior to that prepared in 

 Great Britain. As shipped from the tanneries, the "sides" weigh 

 from 30 to 200 pounds. The cub sides weigh from 30 to 40 pounds, 

 measure from i to i inch in thickness, and are worth about 30 cents 

 per pound. The largest sides weigh 180 to 200 pounds each, are li to 

 2 inches thick, and sell for $1 to $1.25 per pound. The average sides 

 weigh 80 or 90 pounds, are f to 1 inch thick, and sell for 60 to 70 cents 

 per pound. Of course, when cut into circular shape these are sold at 

 very much higher prices. The average price paid by metal-workers 

 in this countr}^ is probably between $1 and $2 per pound, and for the 

 very thick hide as much as $5 p(?r pound has been paid. 



F. C. 1902 22 



