SHEEP-SKINS 163 



numbers of steam-pipes both above and below the hanging 

 skins. The temperature of this oven is about 80 F., and it 

 takes about thirty hours to dry a skin so that it can be packed 

 for shipping. 



In valuing sheep-skins the condition of the pelt as regards cuts, 

 weevils, dampness, &c., has to be taken into consideration, also 

 the length and quality of the wool. The length of wool on 

 sheep-skins varies a good deal, as sheep are killed all the year 

 round, and you will get pelts from some districts and full-woolled 

 skins from others at the same time. Pelts are skins that have been 

 taken off the sheep a short time after shearing. They therefore 

 have very little wool on them. 



The skin-buyers have a list of classes of skins which includes 

 the lengths and qualities of the wool of all sheep-skins offered in 

 the market they are operating in. The town buyers have a list of 

 classes similar to the following : 



MERINO PELTS. Wool up to in. 

 MERINO SHORT. Wool from J in. to I in. 

 MERINO CLOTHING. Wool from i in. to i in. 

 MERINO A. COMBING. Wool from i in. to 2 in. 

 MERINO B. COMBING. Wool from 2 in. to 2\ in. 

 MERINO C. COMBING. Wool over 2 in. 



In Cross-bred skins the lengths are slightly different, as the 

 wool on these skins grows faster and longer than Merino 

 wool. 



CROSS-BRED PELTS. All skins with wool up to i in. in length. 

 CROSS-BRED SHORT. All skins with wool from i in. to 2 in. in length. 

 CROSS-BRED A. COMBING. All skins with wool from 2 in. to 3 in. in length. 

 CROSS-BRED B. COMBING. All skins with wool from 3 in. in length and 



Most shippers buy the skins on the length and quality of the 

 wool, also state of the pelt ; they do not trouble to estimate the 

 yield of the wool on each lot of skins, though buying the skins on 

 the yield of wool is no doubt the best and safest, provided you are 

 competent to estimate the yield correctly. 



