172 ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY 



of the hunters is largely increased by the sale of otter, bear, deer, and 

 other skins. 



"The skin should be removed soon after death as, in warm climates, pu- 

 trefaction sets in very early and the value of the skin is depreciated. After 

 removal, the flesh side of the skin is thoroughly rubbed with fine salt, and the 

 skin is carefully rolled up with the salted side inside and is ready for shipment, 

 but must be kept in a dry, cool place. Great care must be taken not to cut 

 the hide since small cuts that are not noticeable in the raw skin may be so 

 conspicuous in the dressed skin as to render it of much less value; a large per- 

 centage of the hides received in the markets are thus damaged. 



"Formerly only the 'belly skin' was removed, by two longitudinal in- 

 cisions just below the horny portion of the back; but it was later found 

 that the thick horny skin of the back could be tanned nearly as well as the 

 thinner belly skin, so that the entire skin is now usually removed by a longi- 

 tudinal incision along the mid- ventral line, with lateral incisions along each 

 leg to the foot. The entire skin is more commonly taken in Mexico and 

 Central America than in our States, Fig. in. 



"Although the raw skins are sold according to length, the tanned hides 

 are sold by the width of the leather at the widest part. Standard hides 

 sell for $i.oo to $1.65 per 12 inches of width. Some skins tanned and 

 dyed in a superior manner sell for $2 or more for single skins of 2^ 

 feet in length. As a rule the Louisiana skins fetch the highest prices, 

 and those from Florida the lowest. Imitation alligator leather is now 

 prepared in large quantities, principally from sheepskins or the buffing from 

 cowhides. These are tanned according to the usual process, and before the 

 skins are finished they are embossed with the characteristic alligator markings 

 by passing them between two rollers." (Above-mentioned report, p. 346.) 



Very little of the leather is now used in making shoes, the chief 

 demand being for handbags, music-rolls, etc. In fact at the present 

 time (1919) alligator leather is so little in vogue that the business is 

 said to be nearly dead. 



In hunting alligators for their hides two methods are usually em- 

 ployed, in the Southern States at least. The common method is 

 "fire-hunting" at night; the hunters go, either singly or in pairs, 

 usually in boats, sometimes on foot, with shotgun and torch. The torch 

 may be fastened to the hunter's hat, after the manner of the miner's 

 lamp. A more progressive hunter, employed by the writer had, as 

 a torch, an acetylene lamp, attached to his hat, with the tube for the 

 gas extending down his back to the generator in his pocket. This lamp 



