UTILIZATION OF THE SKINS OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 305 



paratively small; but the raw fur-seal skins, as received at the fur- 

 dresser's establishment in their dirty and unsightly condition, bear 

 little resemblance to the finished product delivered to the garment 

 manufacturers. The following account of the present methods of 

 dressing these skins is leased on information furnished by fur-dressers 

 of New York and London, and especially by Mr. Samuel Williams and 

 Mr. Max Bowsky, of New York City: 



The moist skins are first freed of salt and then "blubbered," con- 

 sisti ig in placing each skin, fur down, on an inclined wooden beam 

 somewhat like a tanner's beam, and with a two-handled knife removing 

 all particles of blubber, flesh, and other extraneous matter, care being 

 taken that no cuts or uneven places are made in the pelt. These blul)- 

 ber scrapings are oleaginous and are usuall}^ handled by manufacturers 

 of oils and greases. The skins are soaked in cold water over night 

 and then washed in strong soap water, the amount of washing depend- 

 ing on the condition of the pelt, some pelts .standing more than others, 

 too much washing loosening the fur. Whale-oil soap was formerly 

 considered necessary for this, but its use is now almost abandoned. 

 After the washing, the skins are placed on a beam with the fur side 

 up and the grease and water are removed by scraping or pressing with 

 a beaming knife. 



Then comes the depilation or unhairing, the most difficult and 

 important single step in the process. In preparing for this, a slight 

 difference of practice exists among the various dressers. Usually after 

 the washing, as above noted, each skin is stretched and sewed with 

 heav}^ cord to the rim of an iron hoop and suspended in dry atmos- 

 phere until thoroughly dry, usually requiring several days. Next 

 the}^ are soaked in cold water from one to three days, the length of 

 time varying according to the condition of the skin and the tempera- 

 ture of the water. On removal the fur is dried and the skin made 

 quite warm, doubled together, and sweated in a warm yjlace from one 

 to three hours or until the hair commences to start. In some estab- 

 lishments the drying of the skins on iron hoops is omitted entirely, 

 and the fur is dried and the moist pelt warmed and sweated as above 

 noted immediately after the washing process. 



When the skins are in good working condition, the picker or 

 unhairer bends several of them across boards by the side of a stove, 

 and thus warms and dries the fur side, keeping the skin side moist in 

 the meantime. Each skin while warm is successively placed on the 

 unhairer's beam, pelt side down, and the hair removed l)y using a dull 

 'knife of soft metal, known as a picker's knife, the workman grasping 

 the hair ])etween the knife and his thumb, the latter l)eing protected 

 by a rubl)er cot. Extra force should not be used in case the hairs do 

 not yield readily, for they are liable to ))rcak off; but the pelt should 

 be again moistened and the fur side warmed. After a portion of the 

 skin has been unhaired, it is necessary to warm another part of it at the 



F. C. 1902 20 



