70 ECONOMICAL USES OE 



soon finds its own level in the casks, and when 

 full these are fastened up. I ought to have 

 mentioned that the skins of full grown wal- 

 ruses are always taken off the animal in two 

 halves, being divided longitudinally down the 

 back and the belly ; the skins of calf walruses 

 and seals are always left entire. Walrus hide is 

 a valuable commodity, and sells for from two to 

 four dollars per half skin, calves only counting 

 for a half; it is principally exported to Russia 

 and Sweden, where it is used to manufacture 

 harness and sole leather ; it is also twisted into 

 tiller ropes, and is used for protecting the 

 rigging of ships from chafing. In former 

 times nearly all the rigging of vessels on the 

 north coasts of Norway and Russia used to be 

 composed of walrus skin. 



When there is a superfluity of the article in 

 the market I believe it is boiled into glue. It 

 is from an inch to an inch and a half thick, 

 very pliable in its green state, but slightly 

 spongy, so that I should doubt the quality of 

 the leather made from it. 



The seal-skins mostly find their way to 

 Scotland, where, I believe, they are made into 

 what are known in the hosiers' shops as " dog- 

 skin " and " Dundee kid " gloves. Their value 



