196 By-Products of the Forest 



In these vats the hides are laid flat, and handled 

 every day. They are raised with a tanner's hook, 

 piled beside the vats to drain, and then returned 

 to the liquor. In handling, those which were on 

 top when taken out are placed underneath when 

 put back into the pits. 



Every two or three days the hides are moved 

 on to another of the twelve vats, each holding 

 a stronger liquor, until the last is reached. When 

 they leave that, the tanning is said to be finished. 



The tanned hides are finally brushed, washed 

 in very weak liquors, and placed in piles. There 

 they are allowed to drip for several days to set 

 the tan. By the time they are finally dressed, 

 rubbed with oil, and dried, they do not have 

 much resemblance to the green, soiled hides that 

 went into the tannery only a few weeks before. 



