ART OF CURING SKINS. 83 



bent. (If a single stick long enough is not at hand, two smaller 

 ones can be spliced together.) The ends should be brought around, 

 lapped, and tied with a string or a withe of bark. The skin should 

 be taken from the animal by ripping from the lower front teeth to 

 the vent, and peeling around the lips, eyes and ears, but without 

 ripping up the legs. It should then be placed inside the hoop and 

 fastened at opposite sides, with twine or bark, till all loose parts 

 are taken up, and the whole stretched so that it is nearly round and 

 as tight as a drum-head. When it is dry it may be taken from the 

 hoop, and is ready for transportation. 



This is the proper method of treating the skin of the deer. 

 Some prefer it for the wolf and raccoon. In many cases the trap- 

 per may take his choice between the hoop and the board method. 

 One or the other of these methods will be found satisfactory for 

 curing all kinds of skins. 



If it is simply desired to preserve skins until they are sold, it 

 is only necessary to dry them thoroughly. If the weather should 

 be damp and warm, salt the flesh side slightly with fine salt. 



A dried skin oiled so as to become smooth and pliable will re- 

 tain the hair or fur considerable time. For ordinary purposes, 

 rabbit, squirrel, and other small skins can be efficiently preserved 

 with the hair by the application of powdered alum and fine salt, 

 put on them when fresh, or if not fresh by first dampening them. 



