iyo THE SHEEP AND WOOL INDUSTRY 



This damages the grain of the leather and lowers the value 

 of the hide. Green hides are worth from |d. to |d. per Ib. less 

 than the price of well-salted hides. 



Sloppy hides are those which have been insufficiently salted, 

 enough salt only being used to cause a liquor to run from the 

 hide, rendering it soft and wet. Sloppy hides are worth from 

 ^d. to id. per Ib. under the price of a good-conditioned or well- 

 salted hide. 



Half-green hides are those which have been salted but have 

 not been allowed to lie long enough. 



Good-conditioned hides are those that have been well salted 

 and left till all the superfluous moisture has drained and evapor- 

 ated from them. These hides will keep for any reasonable 

 length of time, as the salt combined with the moisture the hide 

 contains makes a brine which cures the hide thoroughly. 



Hides are bought on quality as well as on condition and 

 weight. 



The following is a list of the weights into which the hides 

 are classed by most of the selling brokers. 



LIGHT CALF. Calf-skins up to lolb. in weight. 



HEAVY CALF OR YEARLINGS. Calf-skins over lolb. in weight and up to 20 Ib. 



inclusive. 



KIP. A hide from 25 to 40 Ib. in weight. 

 LIGHT HIDE. A hide from 40 to 45 Ib. in weight. 

 MEDIUM HIDES. Medium hides weigh from 45 to 55 Ib. in weight. 

 HEAVIES. All hides over 55 Ib. in weight. 



Great care should be taken when skinning a beast, because 

 if the hide is cut or scored it lowers its value considerably. The 

 hide should be cleansed of any blood adhering to it by washing 

 with water if necessary, and at once salting down. The first 

 hide should be spread out flesh side up, either slightly elevated 

 in the centre or on a slight incline to admit of free drainage 

 away of the moisture, and then well salted with coarse salt, being 

 sure to see that the points are well treated in this respect. 



The second hide is laid flesh downwards exactly on top of 



