22 



Farmers' Bulletin 12^7. 



country also recommend the four-square shape. However, in this 

 shape they do not dry so well at the edges, are more subject to insect 

 infestation in the folds, and do not show to such good advantage 

 when marketed as when they have been pinned out in the shape 

 shown in the accompanying illustration (fig. 16). It seems worth 

 while, also, to standardize the method of handling American mole- 

 skins in this way, so that they may be distinguished readily from the 

 imported skins. 



Fig. 16. — Drying skins on a board, showing the three stages of work on one skin : 

 (1) Four pins are first used, one in each corner; (2) four intermediate pins are then 

 inserted, the skin being slightly stretched; (3) finally, eight more pins are tacked in, 

 one between each two of those already in place. A light tack-hammer will serve for 

 driving the pins. 



If it is desired to make up the skins at home for trimmings or fur 

 pieces the following method of tanning will be found very satisfac- 

 tory : 



For a tanning liquor add to each gallon of water 1 quart of salt 

 and one-half ounce of sulphuric acid. This mixture should not be 

 kept in a metal container. Moleskins need not remain in the liquor 

 more than one day, although no harm will be done if they are kept 

 there longer. 



AVhen removed from this liquor the skins are washed several times 

 in soapy water, wrung as dry as possible, and rubbed on the flesh 

 side with a cake of hard soap. They are then folded in the middle 

 over a line, hair side out, and left to dry. When both surfaces are 

 barely dry and the interior is still moist they are laid over a smooth, 

 rounded board and scraped on the flesh side with the edge of a worn, 

 flat file or a similar blunt-edged tool. In this way an inner layer 

 is removed and the skins become nearly white in color. They are 

 then stretched, rubbed, and twisted until quite dry. Fresh butter or 

 other animal fat worked into the skins while warm and then worked 

 out again in dry hardwood sawdust, or extracted by a hasty bath in 

 gasoline, increases their softness. 



B 1 8640. 



TANNING SKINS. 



