216 FITTING SHEEP 



cords and shank bones of the legs hind legs, of course and 

 after inserting a small piece of rope or strong twine several 

 times doubled through the holes made by doing this and 

 tying same securely, hang up the carcass by this. 



The animal now being hung up the operator should allow 

 of the escape of all drainings of the veins by sticking his 

 knife into the breast of the carcass much in the manner that 

 is usually followed in the sticking of a pig or steer. The 

 blood readily escapes and makes the matter of dressing more 

 cleanly. Having proceeded thus far, we now pull the skin 

 from off the hind legs by a downward vigorous pull. By the 

 putting of one's wrist against the "veil" or inside skin, or 

 film, when pulling the skin will prevent this being torn which 

 is of much importance in the skillful dressing of sheep and 

 lambs. Now loosen the thin skin on the inside of the hind 

 legs; this is best accomplished by ordinary skinning with 

 the blade of the knife. In skinning this part be particular to 

 keep the skin strained tight; this greatly facilitates the oper- 

 ation of skinning. The main opening of the skin is now 

 made by cutting straight down through the skin of the belly 

 at a point from the udder or scrotum, as the case may be, 

 to the point of the breast. The skin is now easily freed 

 from the belly and sides by vigorous punches between the 

 skin and the flesh with the fist or the handle of the knife. 

 In removing the skin from the shoulders and the partially 

 skinned shanks of forelegs, the first should be fist driven 

 directly through between the skin and flesh, with a down- 

 ward thrust, beginning at the point of the shoulder blade; 

 then with pressure of the arm and elbow the "whole busi- 

 ness" is removed from side and shank in a "jiffy." 



This done, take the shank of left front leg in your right 



