AQUATIC PRODUCTS IN ARTS AND INDUSTRIES. • 181 



The hide of tlie beluii'n, or white wliak^, is one of the best of all skins 

 for leather ijurposes, on account of its durability, strength, and pli- 

 ability. It is sold as porj)oise leather, and probably 1200,000 worth 

 of tanned hides are marketed annually. Alligator skins are also 

 obtained in large quantities, and owing to the peculiarity of their 

 markings, are used entirely as fancy leather. Tanned walrus hides, 

 especiallj' the thick ones, are in great demand for polishing-wheels 

 and other mechanical purposes, and al)out $100,000 worth are sold 

 annuall}'. Among the aquatic skins used to a less extent for leather 

 purposes may be mentioned sea-lion, porjioiso, sea-elei)hant, and a 

 very large variety of fish skins, esi^ecially those of sharks. 



Of the hard substances existing in the form of shells, bones, scales, 

 etc., shells are by far the most important. Xearly, if not quite, 

 1,000,000 tons are secured annually in the United States, consisting 

 principally of the shells of oysters, clams, river mussels, and a very 

 much smaller quantit}^ of other varieties. A fair valuation of these 

 at the i)laces of consumption would doubtless amount to 11,500,000; 

 to this should be added about 1^000,000 as the value of pearls secured 

 during the last year in the Mississipj)! Valley and elsewhere. The 

 value of the shells secured outside of the United States, principally 

 mother-of-pearl shells, amounts to $5,000,000 or $0,000,000 annually, 

 and the i)earls secured sell for nearly an equal amount. Pearls are 

 not obtained in the seas in such large quantities as formerly, but their 

 value is greatly increased. The manufacture of mother-of-pearl and 

 sweet-water shell in the form of buttons, buckles, knife-handles, 

 pistol-stocks, etc., gives emploj'ment to nearly 10,000 persons in this 

 country and to probably three times that number in Europe and 

 elsewhere. 



The yield of whalebone in the United States fisheries is less than 5 

 per cent as much as it was 50 j'ears ago, but the reduced yield has 

 been largely counterbalanced bj^ the increase in value per pound. 

 The product in the American fisheries now approximates 120,000 

 pounds each year, worth $500,000, and about $150,000 worth is obtained 

 in all other parts of the world. At the present market price the total 

 value of whalebone secured in the United States fisheries since 1850 

 is not far from $200,000,000. 



Comparatively little tortoise shell is produced in this country, the 

 annual jdeld approximating $12,000 in value. The West Indies, 

 South America, Africa, East Indies, Pacific islands, etc., supply 

 probably $500,000 worth each year, much of Avhich is manufactured 

 in the United States. 



Little economic use is made of fish scales, except in the production 

 of artificial j)earls and other ornamental objects. Unique and attract- 

 ive artificial flowei^s are made from the scales of sheepshead, tarpon, 

 drum-fish, channel bass, etc. 



Cuttlebone and coral are not produced in the United States, but 

 lai'ge quantities are imported into this country. 



