312 SEALE. 



left one day in this solution, then they are placed in the first bath again for 

 one day, then, back into the second for another day, this alternating of baths 

 being continued for five or six days, by which time the tanning is complete. 

 The skins are then dried, lightly staked, and finished off. 



PBEIPABrNG SHARK SKIN. 



Shark skin is used for a great many purposes, especially for sword 

 grips, knife and sword sheaths, for polishing wood and ivorj', and for 

 covering small ornamental objects, such as jewel boxes or card cases. 

 A manufacturer in Paris has made a big reputation by tanning the skin 

 of the Malabar shark into morocco leather. 



Some very beautifully marked sharks are found in the Philippines 

 such as ChiloscyUium, indicuvi (Gm.), Stegostoma tigrinum Linn., Sey- 

 Ilium capense Mull. & Hen., and 8. marmorahim Gray & Hard. Their 

 skins could be made into excellent leather. 



To tan shark skins, the skins are (if hard) first soaked in water for four 

 or five days; they then are placed in a solution of lime and water, as in the case 

 of the crocodile skins; they remain in this solution from two to six days, and are 

 then washed free of lime, and soaked in bran water for a day or so; they 

 are then fleshed, or shaved, and immersed in an alum solution composed of 0.5 

 kilogram of alum and 0.1 kilogram of salt to 4 liters of wat«r; they remain in 

 this solution two or three days, with occasional stirrings. On removal they are 

 dried and are ready for manufacturing. 



To prepare shark's skin for the use of cabinet-makers it is merely cleaned and 

 not tanned, the hard dry skin is soaked in lukewarm water for three or four 

 days, shaved on the flesh side, and then dried. This skin will outwear many sheets 

 of sand-paper of equal size. 



We are indebted to Chas. H. Stevenson's valuable paper regarding- 

 methods of tanning, for much of the above information.^' 



X. A CHECK LIST OF PHILIPPINE HOLOTHTJEIANS. 



1. Cucumaria conjungens Semper. 



General color brownish. Habitat : JIariveles, Luzon. In shallow water. 

 Length 20-25 millimeters. 



2. Cucumaria longipeda Semper. 



Color dull gray. Habitat: Bohol, Pandanon. In water of 30 fathoms. Length 

 20 millimeters. 



3. Cucumaria citrea Semper. 



Color orange-yellow. Habitat: Bohol. In 8 fathoms. Length 15-20 milli- 

 meters. 



4. Cucumaria versicolor Semper. 



General color olive-green. Habitat : Bohol. In water of 6 to 10 fathoms. 

 Length 6—7 centimeters. 



5. Cucumaria maculata Semper. 



Habitat: Bohol. In water of 10 fathoms. Length 4.5 centimeters. 



"Report U. S. Fish Comm. (1902), 283. 



