40 
Farmers' Bulletin 1055. 
skins promptly, within, as a safe rule, 24 hours after skinning. 
Otherwise any benefits that might be derived will be more than 
offset by deterioration and decay. 
At all times, and especially in warm weather, it is impracticable 
to ship green hides and skins any distance. They will taint and 
putrefy almost as easily as fresh meat. If for necessary cause they 
must be shipped at once they should be salted heavily enough to pre- 
vent deterioration in transit. Besides the great chance for loss from 
decomposition, the requirements of the express companies that all 
green hides and skins be shipped in tight boxes, barrels, or kegs, 
make this method unprofitable, because of the expense of these con- 
tainers and of the extra cost of transportation. 
MARKET CLASSES OF HIDES AND SKINS. 
Most farnlers, ranchmen, and many local butchers are unfamiliar 
with the specifications for the various market classes and grades of 
hides and skins and with their relative values and the corresponding 
market price. Such knowledge would place the country-hide pro- 
ducer on a more equal footing with the buyer and enable him to de- 
mand and receive prices in accordance with the quality of his products. 
Misunderstanding and suspicion, which serve only to handicap the 
industry, also would be less frequent. 
CLASSES AND GRADES OF PACKER HIDES AND SKINS. 
With a few minor changes in the descriptions, the data given be- 
low are the same as those recently issued by the War Industries Board. 
GRADES. 
Grubs. — During certain times of the year, hides and skins are often 
damaged by grub holes, and because of this a selection or grading 
based on the number of grub holes is generally made during the grub- 
bing season. Packer hides with fewer than 5 grub holes are graded 
as No. 1, while those with 5 or more are graded as No. 2. The grub- 
bing seasons are as follows : On Texas steers and branded cows, from 
November 1 to June 1 ; on Colorados from December 1 to June 1 ; on 
native steers (including " spreadies "), "butt-brands," and native 
cows, from January 1 to June 1. 
Hair slips and cuts. — Packer hides are classed as No. 1 except 
when ther,c are hair slips or a cut in the body of the hide which can 
not be trimmed Dut without spoiling the pattern. Such hides are 
classed as No. 2 or as glue stock, 1 depending upon the extent of the 
damage. A No. 2 hide generally sells at 1 cent a pound less than 
a No. 1 hide of similar class and weight. 
1 Tl'ere is no exact definition for slue hides. Generally hides that are tainted, or have 
hair slips cr many grub holes, or are of extremely irregular pattern are in this class. 
