28 
Farmers' Bulletin 1055. 
happens contamination of the meat is almost sure to result. A similar 
precaution is important when removing the skin from the carcass 
of a goat. 
Sheep are not stunned before bleeding, although this method ot 
killing may be used with the old ones. After sticking the sheep 
through the throat, skin out the legs as illustrated in figure 37. 
Split the skin over the 
back of the front legs 
from the dewclaws to 
somewhat beyond the 
knees, and also from 
the brisket to the chin, 
skinning back a little 
on the neck. For the 
hind legs split the skin 
down the back to the 
center line of the belly. 
Remove the skin from 
the legs and buttocks, 
cut off the feet at the 
toe joints, and suspend 
the animal by its hind 
legs. Split the skin 
down the center line 
of the belly from the 
tail to neck and lift it 
off over the flank, as 
pictured in figure 38. 
From this stage the pelt can be removed entirely by " fisting-off " 
and pulling. In " fisting-off," the edge of the skin is grasped firmly 
in one hand and pulled while the fist of the other hand is shoved 
between the skin and body. Figure 39 shows this operation plainly. 
The strokes of the fist should be downward over the forequarters 
and upward and backward over the hind quarters. After being 
11 fisted-off " the sides and back the pelt is stripped down over the 
neck, as figure 40 shows, and cut off close in back of the ears. 
Fig. 32. — Skinning the hind leg of a calf. 
SUMMARY OF COMMON DEFECTS IN COUNTRY TAKE-OFF AND REMEDIES 
THEREFOR. 
In the following tabulation the most serious and most prevalent 
defects from the skinning of country hides and skins are given in the 
left column. Suggestions for overcoming these faults are listed in 
the right column opposite. 
