THE PHILIPPINE 



Journal of Science 



A. Chemical and Geological Sciences 

 AND THE Industries 



Vol. X NOVEMBER, 1915 



No. 6 



THE LEATHER INDUSTRY OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ^ 



By Vicente Q. Gana 



(From the Laboratory of General, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry, 



Bureau of Science, Manila, P. I.) 



TWO PLATES 



There exists in the Philippine Islands a considerable, but very- 

 primitive, tanning industry. The methods now in use have not 

 undergone substantial modification since they were introduced 

 by the Chinese, probably several centuries ago. Consequently 

 the leather produced is inferior in quality, especially so since 

 tanning in a tropical country involves difficulties not encoun- 

 tered elsewhere. There is no obstacle to a great expansion of 

 this industry. The leather market is good, and additional sup- 

 plies of the necessary materials can be had in considerable quan- 

 tities and at fairly reasonable prices. Therefore, in order to 

 stimulate the industry, an extensive study of the existing in- 

 dustry and some practical experiments using improved methods 

 have been carried on. 



Data regarding the leather industry furnished by the provin- 

 cial treasurers are given in Table I. 



Table I. — Number and output of tanneries of the Philippine Islands. 



Locality. 



Manila 



Bulacan 



Iloilo 



Cebu 



Pangasinan 



Albay 



Ilocos Sur 



Ilocos Norte 



Ambos Camarines 

 Rizal 



Tan- 



Tanned 

 hides 



neries. 



pro- 

 duced. 



8 



39, 050 



11 



36,000 



3 



5,929 



4 



4,401 



11 



2,600 



4 



1,320 



37 



1,130 



13 



1,114 



3 



270 



1 



250 



Locality. 



Tayabas 



Batangas 



Zamboanga.. 

 Nueva Ecija 



Sorsogon 



Antique 



Cavite 



Cagayan 



Capiz 



Total .. 



Tan- 

 neries. 



2 



19 



1 



4 



1 



2 



4 



17 



22 



167 



Tanned 

 hides 

 pro- 

 duced. 



250 



220 



216 



164 



120 



70 



65 



54 



22 



93,245 



' Received for publication May 10, 1915. This paper is being issued in 

 Spanish. 



136791 • 349 



/n^ 



