346 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



from eight to fifteen clays, according to their size and the conditions 

 of the water and the temperature. Each da}' the hides are reeled or 

 removed into a stronger lime solution, great care being observed to 

 avoid injuring the skin during this handling. The wet hides are now 

 placed on a beam and shaved on the flesh side, all fat and superfluous 

 flesh being removed. The bate of bran into which they next pass is 

 made very weak, and in it the hides are gentl}' agitated b}^ means of a 

 wheel, remaining there for ten to fifteen hours. 



The hides are next cleaned in a wash-wheel tank and then immersed 

 in a vat of oak bark extract, gambia, or sumac liquor of about 4° 

 strength. Every day or so the liquor is made stronger, increasing to 

 about 20° at the end of eighteen or twenty days. A gentle agitation 

 of the tanning liquor during the last ten or twelve days is A'ery bene- 

 ficial, as it aids in the more thorough tanning of the skins and pre- 

 vents the sediment of the liquor from settling in the creases, which is 

 liable to rot the tender portions, especially in case of small hides. 

 The hides are removed from the tanning liquor and suspended in the 

 open air for samming, or partial drying and hardening, so that thej'' 

 may be again shaved on the flesh side to further reduce the thickness. 

 They are returned to the tan liquor, where they are reeled for four or 

 five da3^s, the strength of the liquor being increased from time to time. 



On removal from the tan liquor the second time, the hides are 

 scoured with sumac water and selected for the difi'erent colors. Many 

 are left in the natural color, yellowish brown. The popular dyed 

 efi'ects are black, and various shades of brown, green, yellow, red, etc. 

 The coloring is done in a bath with wood and aniline dyes, the immer- 

 sion lasting from ten to sixty minutes. The skins are next stretched 

 out, and in most cases nailed on wide boards or frames for drying, and 

 when thoroughly dry they are "staked" over iron beams or stakes for 

 the purpose of making them flexible and pliable. If intended for 

 shoes they are seasoned before staking, this consisting in stufiing them 

 with tallow, fish oil, etc. But very few alligator hides are now pre- 

 pared for shoe leather, since they are rather fancy for that purpose. 

 After dressing them on the polishing machine, the skins are measured 

 and stored in the warehouse or delivered to the leather manufaetui'crs. 



Although green alligator hides are sold according to length, tanned 

 hides are sold b}^ the width of the leather at the widest part. The 

 price for skins of standard grade ranges from $1 to $1.05 per 12 inches 

 of width. Some skins tanned and dyed in a superior manner sell for 

 12 or more for single skins 2i feet in length. As a rule the Louisiana 

 skins fetch the highest prices, and those from Florida the lowest. 



Imitation alligator leather is now prepared in lai'ge quantities, prin- 

 cipally from sheepskins or the bufling from cowhides. These are 

 tanned according to the usual process, and before the skins are finished 

 they are embossed with the characteristic alligator markings l)y pas- 

 sinof them l)etween two rollers. 



