138 GAME. 



off when pulled. A strong iron spike about three feet 

 long was then driven through the head of the buffalo 

 into the ground, pinning it fast. The waggon was then 

 brought up, and the other end of the rope made fast to 

 the hind axle. The horses were whipped up, and the 

 skin torn from the carcass at one pull. I have seen a 

 skin taken off in this way in, I think, less than five 

 minutes (though I did not time it by the watch). Some- 

 times the skin was badly torn, and always, more or less, 

 flesh adhered to it, giving additional work to the stretcher. 

 When, therefore, the careful preparation of each skin 

 began to be of greater importance than time, this process 

 was abandoned, and the skinner returned to his usual 

 greasy, filthy, and legitimate work. 



When the skins are brought to camp the work of the 

 stretcher begins. This is of no little importance, for, if 

 not done properly, the value of the skin is diminished, if not 

 destroyed. A smooth piece of ground, exposed all day to 

 the rays of the sun, is selected. Small slits are cut in the 

 edges of the skin all around its whole circumference at in- 

 tervals of about a foot. The skin, flesh side up, is stretched 

 as tightly as possible, and pinned fast by wooden pegs 

 driven through the slits into the ground. Every particle 

 of flesh or fatty matter is then carefully removed from the 

 exposed surface, which is left to dry and harden in the 

 sun. Should a rainfall occur durr j this process the skin 

 is lost, as, in drying, it contracts so as- to draw the pegs or 

 tear loose from them, shrivels up, and is worthless as a 

 merchantable article. In from two to. five days, accord- 

 ing to the season and heat of the sun, the skin is cured 

 and stacked with others ready for transportation to 

 market. 



At the present time such is the care bestowed on 

 killing, skinning, and curing, that with the most successful 

 parties 100 skins delivered in market represent only 

 about 125 dead buffalo. 



It was my desire and intention to have furnished com- 



