LOSSES ON WARBLED HIDES, XXXIU 



affected, with an estimated loss of 2s. 6d. per hide average." — James 

 Watson & Sons, Hide Market, Whitehall Eoad, Leeds. 



" The delay in forwarding this letter has been due to my ascer- 

 taining from our local tanners the effect of warbles on our supply of 

 hides. 



'' I have no means of ascertaining definitely, and can only approxi- 

 mate the following results : — 



" The hides suffer most severely from March to the end of August 

 in each year ; they are slightly damaged during the months of February, 

 September, and October ; whilst during the other three months of the 

 year they show slight traces, after tanning, by the marks left after the 

 warble-holes have closed up. 



" Taking our supply of 50,000 hides (excluding odd numbers) sold 

 during 1888, the amount of damage on the following basis would run 

 thus : — 



£ s. d. 

 2s. 6d. per hide on 9000 hides, being one-third 



received from March 1st to August 31st ... 1125 

 Is. 6d. per hide on 2500 hides, being one-fourth 

 received during February, September, and 



October 187 10 



9d. per hide on 3000 hides, being one-fourth 

 received during November, December, and 

 January 112 10 



Total 1425 



"Adopting another basis of calculation, taking the average to be 

 25 per cent, from March 1st to October 31st, and 12^ per cent, for the 

 remaining portion of the year, and taking the damage at an average of 

 2s. 6d. per hide, the result would be £1250. 



" I am inclined to think that both these estimates considerably 

 under-rate the mischief done, and would especially point out that these 

 figures refer only to the deterioration to the sale of the hides in a 

 green state, and do not take into account the loss to the tanner on the 

 finished article beiug depreciated in value, or the cost of labour and 

 materials expended in producing leather which when finished is found 

 to be unfit for the purpose intended. 



"Another very important matter is the deterioration of the animal 

 whilst living," &c. — W. H. Hill, manager to the Sheffield Butchers' 

 Hide and Skin Co., Limited. 



" I should say" the warble " makes from a farthing to sometimes a 

 penny per pound difference to the butcher (about four or five shillings 

 each hide difference)." — From a communication on the general bearing 



