MA\A<;K.MK.\T OF MAKKKT KAP.IMTS. 17 



the leg between the thumb and the first finger, both inserted between it and the skin; 

 with the thumb and linger of the other hand take the skin, give a sharp pull, and 

 so draw the leg out of its skin, which will break off at the ankle-joint of the leg. 

 Xmv repeat the operation described to free the other hind leg. and separate the tail 

 from the body with a knife. This done, grip the two hind legs firmly in the left 

 hand, and with the right pull the skin away from the carcass as far as it will go, 

 which will be up to the fore legs, and will come off quite easily with one long, slow 

 pull, after which free these legs in much the same way as was done in the case of 

 the hind legs. Give another pull to the skin, and this will become detached right 

 up to the ears. A slit should now be made with a sharp knife between the tendon 

 and bone of a hind leg, and the other leg passed through it as already described. 

 The rabbit may now be fixed by its hind legs so looped over a strong nail or peg 

 fixed in the table, giving the operator the use of both hands for skinning the head. 

 Take now the skin in the left hand, and, pulling it gently the whole time, cut off 

 the ears close to the head with the right hand; cut round the eyes as the skin is 

 stopped by them, and continue to use the knife on the forehead and elsewhere, as 

 required, until the skin is pulled off entirely. 



The carcass is now ready to be dressed and shaped. With this object the toes 

 are chopped off from each of the four legs. The hind legs are left looped as they 

 were while the head was being skinned, while the fore legs are stuck through small 

 slits made between the first and second ribs on either side of the fore-quarters. 

 Finally, the carcass is pressed and flattened out to bring out fully its plumpness 

 and to facilitate packing. For this purpose the rabbits should be laid out side by 

 side in single layers, upon shelves 18 inches wide, with the hind legs against the 

 wall. A shaping-board some 6 inches wide is then laid over them, so as to spread 

 out the thighs, and this weighed down with bricks, stones, or some similar -weights. 

 The rabbits should be left upon these shelves for some twelve hours, by which time 

 they will have thoroughly cooled and become rigid. Light must, as far as possible, 

 be excluded, as it tends to discolour the flesh ; so also must dust, for which purpose 

 the carcasses should be covered with a cloth if necessary. 



For sending to market these rabbits should be closely packed in well-ventilated 

 crates of suitable size. One 2 feet square and of the same depth will hold about 

 fifty carcasses. The crates should be lined with stout white paper, the rabbits 

 packed flat, and a sheet of white parchment paper laid between each layer of 

 rabbits. As it is desirable that the carcasses should be packed as tightly as possible, 

 so as to leave no room for shaking them up, the depths of the crates should be 

 governed by the number of rabbits sent away at each consignment. If a crate 

 cannot be entirely filled, a false lid should be laid over the top layer of rabbits and 

 held down on them in some way. 



MARKETING SKINS. 



The skins of rabbits sold dressed may be made to yield a small addition to 

 profits. Furriers in this Province, however, do not seem eager to purchase any skins, 

 other than all black, white, silver grey, or blue. In some of the larger towns dress- 

 makers and milliners sometimes purchase a few skins to be used as trimmings. 

 Naturally enough, it is best to collect a fair hatch of them before selling, and for 

 this purpose it is necessary to preserve them so as to avoid putrefaction. The most 

 satisfactory plan, where the skins are not too numerous to be so treated, is to stretch 

 and fix them on walls or boards by nie;'i;s of ;) few nails or tacks, and after scraping 

 off all fat and tlesh adhering to them with a blunt knife, to rub them in thoroughly 

 with salt and a little saltpetre on the inside. AY hen thoroughly dry and stiff, which 

 condition they will quickly attain if exposed to the sun or to heat of any other kind, 

 they may be stored for as long as may be desired. If the mimlxT of skins to be 

 dealt with is a large one. it is not jiossihlo to give them so much attention, much 

 less to find sufficient space for thorn to be properly stretched. In that case, lines of 

 stout cord or strong wire should be stretched in pairs under a shed or other cover 



