SHEEPSKINS 115 



be kept for years. The forces at work in this phenomenon 

 are somewhat complex (see Part V., Section I., p. 200). 

 The skins may be depickled by paddling in a 10 per cent, 

 salt solution to which weak alkalies such as borax, whitening, 

 carbonate and bicarbonate of soda, etc., have been added. 



The leather manufacturer classifies sheepskins according 

 to the size of the pelts. The large skins are tanned for light 

 upper leathers and similar work. These are called " basils." 

 Many large skins are also split green into " skivers," which 

 after vegetable tannage are finished for fancy goods, book- 

 binding, etc. The fleshes are often oil-tanned for chamois 

 leather (Part IV., Section III., p. 181). Medium-sized skins 

 such as are obtained from the Down sheep are tanned for 

 " roans," and finished as a kind of morocco leather. Small 

 skins are mostly " tawed " (Part IV., Section I., p. 174) 

 for glove leathers, but some are made into roller leather by 

 vegetable tannage. 



Basils, which represent the heaviest sheepskin work, 

 are tanned and finished in the following manner. The 

 limed pelts are first bated lightly at about 80 F. for two 

 days, scudded and drenched. They are sometimes puered, 

 but more often merely delimed with organic acids. In this 

 last case they are first paddled in warm water to remove 

 excess of lime, and a mixture of organic acids is very slowly 

 added at definite intervals. When nearly free from caustic 

 alkali the skins are removed and drenched overnight. 

 There are two types of tannage. The West of England 

 tannage is similar to those noted for sealskins when oak 

 bark and sumach are employed (Section III., p. 108). There 

 is also the tendency to paddle more and handle less, and to 

 use the stronger tanning materials such as myrabs, gambier 

 and other extracts. After about 12 hours' tannage in 

 paddles they are coloured through, and are then degreased 

 by hydraulic pressure. The skins are piled in the press 

 with layers of sawdust or bran between them, and the 

 pressure applied very slowly. Much grease runs out, for 

 the natural sheepskin contains up to 15 per cent, of oil 

 and fat. Degreasing may be postponed till tannage is 



