628 



Prevention of Damage to Hides, etc. [nov., 



dipping and treatment of sheep, go to show that tar acid 

 (carbolic) dips, and tobacco and arsenical dips, with or with- 

 out sulphur, when skilfully prepared, leave the wool in a nice 

 condition. Fleeces so treated were placed in the first class by 

 the Bradford Conditioning House, as not having deteriorated 

 in value as a result of the dip. Pitch oil, spirits of tar, and 

 crude tar products lowered the commercial value of the fleece 

 by 5 or 10 per cent." 



Flaying. — Another point to which the attention of the 

 Board has been directed is the defective way in which the 

 hides and skins are removed, with the resultant lowering of 

 their value. This is a matter of interest to butchers rather 

 than farmers, and the only way in which an improvement 

 is likely to be effected would be through the action of some 

 of the societies representing the industry. 



In Ireland a number of demonstrations of the most ap- 

 proved methods of flaying hides and skins were given in 

 1908-9 by an expert flayer at the principal centres of the 

 fresh meat trade and of the tanning industry in Ireland. 

 The work was carried out through the co-operation of the 

 Irish Tanners' Federation, who undertook, subject to the 

 approval of the Irish Department of Agriculture, to employ 

 "a properly qualified flayer, to select the centres and to 

 organise the demonstrations, the Department itself defraying 

 the expenses. A similar series of demonstrations was given 

 in 1905-6, and it is stated that the instruction was much 

 appreciated, and that a lasting improvement in the methods of 

 flaying is anticipated. 



At Glasgow and at Newcastle the trade societies have 

 endeavoured to some extent to encourage the men to become 

 more skilled in flaying by offering prizes for proficiency, and 

 this is said to have had satisfactory results. 



In this connection complaints have been made of the 

 inefficient way in which sheep are commonly skinned, It is 

 stated that it is difficult to obtain a sufficient number of well- 

 flayed sheep skins in Great Britain, and that in consequence 

 buyers have to obtain them from France and other parts of 

 the Continent, where much more care seems to be taken. 



