1918.] 
The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 
165 
shanks, entrails, &c., are all taken away in trucks to another building and 
there boiled down, the fat being rendered into tallow and the remainder 
dried, ground up, and converted into manure. Horns, hoofs, sinews, &c,, 
are cleaned and packed ready for export. Other parts of the animal are 
made into bungs, casings, runners, &c., for sausage-casings and suchlike, 
so that every part of the animal is made use of, and no waste allowed. 
The skins are taken off carefully, as these are now the most valuable 
part of the animal. Sheep and lamb skins are conveyed into another 
building, called the fellmongery, and after being washed in a “ dolly 55 they 
are painted on the flesh side with a solution of sulphate of sodium and lime 
and stacked for a period of twelve to twenty-four hours. The chemical 
action of this solution loosens the wool from the skin, and it is easily plucked 
off by hand. The wool (called “ slipe ’’) is then dried and packed in bales 
for shipment ; the skin (now called “ pelt ”) is washed, skivered, and 
finally pickled and packed in casks also for shipment. 
Before the war the average value of the skin would be from 9d. to Is. 6d. 
per pound for the wool, and Is. 6d. to 3s. 6d. each for the pelt. Now, as a 
result of war conditions, very much higher prices are realized. The cost 
of working skins may be set down at ljd. per pound of sliped wool, and 
the cost of curing pelts at about 3s. per dozen. 
Since the war the Imperial Government have requisitioned the slipe 
wool, paying the following prices delivered into port stores : Lambs’ comb¬ 
ing, Is. 4d. to 2s. Id. per pound ; sheeps’ combing, Is. 3Jd. to 2s. per pound; 
sheeps’ clothing, Is. 2d. to Is. lOd. per pound ; sheeps’ pelt wool, Is. to Is. 8d. 
per pound. Seconds and thirds at proportionally lower prices. 
Pelts (owing to a keen demand from the United States during 1917) 
sold up to about 6s. each for sheep and 4s. for lambs f.o.b. These are the 
highest prices ever realized in New Zealand for pelts. This season they 
are somewhat lower, and a recent Government regulation prohibits the 
shipment of lambs’ pelts anywhere except to the United Kingdom. 
The usual grades of meat for export and the present prices per pound 
paid by the Imperial Supplies Department (f.o.b.) are :— 
d. 
1. Prime ox, 160-220 lb. per quarter (equal fores and hinds) .. .. 5 
2. Prime over and under weights (equal fores and hinds) . . .. 5 
3. Prime cow and heifer, 135-180 lb. (equal fores and hinds) .. .. . . 4f 
4. Second-quality ox, all weights .. . . .. .. .. .. 4f 
5. Second-quality cow, all weights .. .. . . .. .. . . 4J 
6. Bull (frozen in quarters) .. .. .. .. .. . . 4J 
7. Bull and cow boned out .. . . . . .. .. ..54 
8. Canners .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... 
9. Prime wethers and maiden ewes, 72 lb. and under . . .. .. .. 5f 
10. Prime wethers over 72 lb. .. . . . . .. .. 54 
11. Second-quality wethers, all weights .. .. .. .. 54 
12. Prime ewes, 72 lb. and under .. . . . . .. .. . . 4| 
13. Prime ewes, over 72 lb. .. . . . . .. . . .. 4f 
14. Second-quality ewes, all weights . . . . . . . . 4f 
15. Super-lambs, under 42 lb. .. . . . . . . .. ..64 
16. Prime lambs, under 42 lb. .. . . . . . . . . .. 6f 
17. Prime lambs, over 42 lb. .. .. . . . . . . .. 64 
18. Second-quality lambs, all weights . . .. .. .. 64 
To the above prices the value of the hide or skin, fat, and offal must be 
added, and the cost of killing, freezing, bagging, storage, putting f.o.b., 
insurance, and interest deducted. The consolidated charge is about 4d. 
per pound, but this varies according to situation of works and class of stock. 
The above prices are fixed during the war and for a period of three 
months afterwards. 
Under ordinary circumstances the voyage to London occupies about 
forty-two to forty-four days (or less than half the time taken in. the early 
