SECTION IV. SHEEPSKINS 



THE most numerous class of skins for light leathers is from 

 the common sheep. These skins have particular value 

 inasmuch as they include the wool as well as the pelt. This 

 wool, which is actually the most valuable part of the sheep's 

 skin, is the raw material of our woollen industries, and is 

 one of the most important of animal proteids. We have, 

 therefore, in this section to consider this dual value of sheep- 

 skins, the proteid of the epidermis (wool), and the proteid 

 of the dermis (pelt) ; one the raw material of the woollen 

 industry, the other the principal raw material of the light 

 leather trade. The first problem is to separate the two 

 proteids. With other skins and hides the ordinary liming 

 processes were sufficient and appropriate, but in the case 

 of sheepskins the method is unsuitable, because the exposure 

 of the wool to the action of caustic lime and possibly other 

 alkalies would seriously impair its quality and reduce its 

 commercial value. Hence this separation of wool from 

 pelt is usually quite a separate business, viz. that of the 

 " fellmonger," whose occupation it is to collect the sheep- 

 skins from butchers and farmers, to separate the two im- 

 portant constituent proteids, and to hand the wool in one 

 direction to the " wool stapler," who sorts it according to 

 quality, and to hand the pelt in another direction to the 

 light leather tanner, who tans and finishes the pelt to fit 

 it for light upper work, fancy goods, etc. 



In the first instance, therefore, we have to consider the 

 work of the fellmonger, the separation of wool and pelt. 

 In this work the wool receives first consideration, and the 

 raw material of the fellmonger is usually classified accord- 

 ingly into " long wools," " short wools," and " mountain 

 breeds." The skins vary very largely in quality of wool 

 and in quality of pelt, being influenced very strongly by 



