544 MARINE PRODUCTS OF COMMERCE 



more often the case, by exposing the hides to hot sun. Sometimes they may be- 

 come burnt or overheated during storage. To avoid this danger they should be 

 moved occasionally so that the air can get at them. A burnt hide is valueless. 



Thin Bellies. At certain times of the year some sharks, particularly the nurse 

 shark, have "thin bellies." There is nothing that can be done about this. Another 

 cause of "thin bellies" is improper skinning. The hides are pulled off the sharks, 

 leaving some of the hide substance on the carcass. This cause of "thin bellies" 

 is easily avoided by following the instructions already given for skinning. 



Selling Hides. To give an idea of the price which may be expected the price list 

 of one of the large purchasers as of 1943 is given in Table 117. 



Table 117. 



Schedule of Prices and Classification on Nurse Shark Hides 



Hides measuring 35 in. and up to and including 49 in 



ditto 

 ditto 

 ditto 

 ditto 

 ditto 

 ditto 

 ditto 

 ditto 

 ditto 



Schedule of Prices and Classification on Shark Hides of Other Species 



Hides measuring 35 in. and up to and including 49 in. $0.70 



ditto 50 in. ditto 59 in. 0.90 



ditto 60 in. ditto 64 in. 1.15 



ditto 65 in. ditto 69 in. 1.50 



ditto 70 in. ditto 80 in. 2.00 



ditto 81 in. ditto 90 in. 2.50 



ditto 91 in. ditto 94 in. 2.90 



ditto 95 in. ditto 104 in. 3.35 



ditto 105 in. ditto 115 in. 3.90 



ditto 116 in. ditto 125 in. 4.55 



ditto 126 in. ditto 135 in. 5.50 



F.O.B. tannery, payment after arrival and inspection at plant. 



The hides are graded and the above prices apply as follows: 



No. 1 Hides: Full price, plus 20 per cent bonus. Perfect hides, having no holes 

 and no sour (rotten) spots. 



No. 2 Hides: Full price. Hides having not more than 3 holes, or not more than 

 1 sour spot. 



No. 3 Hides: 40 per cent of full price. Hides having 4 or more holes or more 

 than 1 sour spot. 



No. 4 Hides: No value. Hides having numerous holes over the entire surface 

 or having a large number of sour spots over the entire surface, making the hide 

 worthless. 



