338 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Another use to a\ hich tunned walrus hide is put is us covering for 

 the rollers used in g-innino- long-stuplc cotton, such us Sea Island or 

 Egyptian. This is a coniparutively recent use, yet pro])ably 6,000 

 pounds arc consumed in the United States annually in this manner. 

 The tanned hide is cut into thin strips and attached to the surface of 

 the roller, entirely covering that portion that comes in contact with 

 the cotton. It is peculiarh' adapted to this use and much more satisfac- 

 tory than hull-neck leather or any other matei-ial formerly employed. 



Formerly the light or thin hides of walrus were little used, as they 

 were not suitable for polishing purposes, and therefore they were of 

 small value. But during the last few years the leather made from 

 these thin hides has become quite fashionable for such articles as card- 

 cases, pocketbooks, belts, etc. For this purpose the leather is split and 

 so tanned that the grain has a remarka1)ly smooth ^-elvety appearance. 



The process of tunning walrus hides depends on the purpose for 

 which the finished material is designed. If intended for polishing pur- 

 poses the hide should l)e tunned as thick and heavy as possible, with 

 a hard, tough texture. The tanning of the heavy leather consumes 

 from six months to one year or more when properly done. Accelera- 

 tion of the process is likely to result in uneven texture, with the interior 

 fibers imperfectly tunned. It is cluimed that the best of the heavy 

 hides are English tanned. 



For thin, pliable funcy leather, the skins are tanned in precisely the 

 same manner as seal skins, except the changes and the greater length 

 of time due to the superior thickness of the leather. It is proper to 

 state, however, that the greater portion, indeed possibly 90 per cent, 

 of the so-called "walrus leather" manufactured into cardcases and 

 other fancy articles is nothing more than seal leather with a walrus 

 grain, which is easily given to it in the process of currying. The 

 walrus skins are so difficult to obtain and are so frequently cut and 

 damaged that they can not be economically used for fanc}^ articles. 

 The seal leather is equally durable, and when properly grained and 

 finished the substitution can be detected by comparatively few persons. 



LEATHER FROM MANATEE AND DUGONG. 



For many years the market has received small quantities of curi- 

 ously grained, tough, and durable leather made from hides of manatee 

 and dugong. 



The manatee is found in the shallow waters of the tropical seas on 

 both sides of the Atlantic and in the large tributary rivers. It occurs 

 principally among the West Indian Islands, the coasts of Brazil and 

 Florida, and on the Senegambian coast of Africa. Owing to its gre- 

 garious and inactive habits it is easily killed. Being valuable for its 

 oil as well as for its hides, it has been so extensively slaughtered that 

 it is now quite scarce. 



The dugong or hulicorc is the muntltee of the Asiatic and Australian 



