SECTION IV. CHROME GOAT AND SHEEP 



IMMENSE quantities of goat and sheep skins are chrome 

 tanned for upper leathers. Most of them are manufactured 

 into the well-known and popular Glace kid, to the manu- 

 facture of which this section is chiefly devoted. To be 

 quite strict, glace kid should be made from kid skins, but 

 actually comparatively few of such skins are used, they 

 being reserved rather for glove leathers. The popular 

 upper leather is made from goatskins. 



Chrome goat is deservedly popular ; it is an ideal upper 

 leather for shoes and light boots. As compared with 

 chrome calf (thickness and other factors being equal), it 

 is not only softer and more pliant, but also more durable. 

 It is usually, however, not quite so thick, and perhaps 

 therefore not quite so warm and waterproof. The popu- 

 larity of glace is probably enhanced by the brighter and 

 more glassy finish than is usual with box. 



As the supply of goatskins is unfortunately too limited, 

 an even more widely used glace upper leather is made 

 from sheepskins, and often sold as glace kid. From what 

 has been previously said as to the quality of goat and 

 sheepskin leathers (Part II., Sections II. and IV.), it will 

 be readily understood that glace sheep is by no means 

 so good a leather as glace goat. It is perhaps as soft, but 

 is more spongy and loose textured, and is neither so water- 

 proof nor so durable as chrome goat. The ubiquitous 

 sheep, however, provides an immense supply of raw 

 material, and the resulting leather, which should strictly 

 be regarded as a glace kid imitation, finds a ready sale. 

 When well finished it is indeed a good imitation in respect 

 of appearance, and this fact, together with its comparatively 

 low cost, causes it to meet an undoubted public need. 



The production of glace goat will first be considered. 



