ANGORA GOAT. 313 



not numerous. About 3,000, sometimes more, skins are 

 imported annually into London ; the annual collection 

 is 10,000. 



The value of a skin is about 12s. Some twenty years 

 ago 20s. was paid ; at the beginning of the century even 

 90s. was reached. The longer-woolled skins are used 

 for trimmings and tassels for opera cloaks ; the shorter- 

 woolled are used for rugs. 



For the manufacture of these skins it is essential 

 that no particle of grease should remain in the hair. 

 The skins, on arrival at the dresser's, are therefore 

 soaked, and, when moist, stretched on frames and then 

 limed. The pelt is afterwards shaved with a circular 

 knife, and the next process is that of bleaching. The 

 skins are then either finished off, and dressed, or dyed 

 black, brown, or grey, as the case may be. 



The bleaching of the sun is, however, far preferable to 

 that of the bleaching-house. 



The import of mohair into London is about 190 bales. 



The Angora Goat has for some years past been intro- 

 duced and acclimatized at Cape Colony. The quality 

 and length of fleece has much depreciated on account 

 of domestic and other influences. A certain quantity of 

 skins are imported annually, but the price is low. 

 3,071,527 Angora Goats were in Cape Colony in 1889. 

 In the wild state the Angora Goats are branded at the 

 flank. 



The Field, of 8th June, 1878, remarks :—" The 

 climate and soil of Central Asia Minor are of extreme 

 dryness, with an average elevation of 2,500 feet above 

 the level of the sea, and an abundant growth of oak, 

 either in the form of trees or scrub bush, the leaves of 

 which furnish the Goats with their favourite food, not 

 only whilst green in summer, but dried for winter 



