SECTION II. THE PREPARATION OF PELT 



BEFORE hides are tanned it is necessary for them to pass 

 through a series of preparatory processes. The object of 

 these processes is to obtain from the hide the true hide 

 substance in a pure and suitable condition. Each class of 

 leather has its own appropriate processes, the adjustment 

 of which largely determines the quality of the finished 

 article. So prominent is the influence of these preparatory 

 methods that the paradox " good leather is made before 

 tanning " is in trade circles almost a platitude. These 

 processes, sometimes lumped together under the general 

 name of " Wetwork," comprise soaking, liming, beam 

 house work and deliming. These will be discussed in 

 turn. 



The term applied to the hide after these processes, but 

 before tannage, is " pelt." 



Soaking has for its object the cleansing and softening 

 of the hides, chiefly by means of water. It aims at the 

 removal of dirt, blood, dung, and curing materials by 

 washing. The process is usually simple, and is much the 

 same for all classes of leather. The ideal to be aimed at 

 is to restore the hide to its condition when it left the animal's 

 back. Cleanliness in leather manufacture is as essential 

 at the commencement as anywhere, for the hide is in its 

 most putrescible state. The soluble proteids (blood, lymph, 

 part of dung, etc.) which always adhere to hides en- 

 courage the rapid growth of putrefactive bacteria, and 

 cannot be washed away too soon. Dung is often difficult 

 to remove, being caked on the butt end amongst the hair. 

 Soaking only softens it, and mechanical removal is usually 

 necessary. If such substances are not removed, they go 



