158 
The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. 
[Aug. 
The following are analyses of greasy and slipe wools :— 
Three- 
Half-bred. 
quarter- 
bred. 
Leicester. 
Lincoln. 
Greasy Wool. 
Moisture 
16-90 
19-20 
17-79 
17-18 
Wool-fat 
16-68 
12-08 
8-94 
5-72 
Other fatty matter 
0-42 
0-74 
0-91 
0-96 
Water-soluble suint 
10-30 
12-72 
7-81 
2-26 
Sand, dirt, &c. 
3-62 
3-94 
5-10 
5-32 
Pure wool-fibre 
52-08 
51-32 
59-45 
68-56 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
Slipe Wool. 
Moisture 
12-78 
12-82 
13-37 
12-67 
Wool-fat 
6-49 
5-76 
3-53 
3-47 
Other fatty matter 
2-45 
2-29 
1-82 
2-05 
Water-soluble suint 
2-01 
1-60 
1-20 
1-04 
Sand, dirt, &c. 
2-66 
3-72 
4-49 
3-85 
Pure wool-fibre 
73-61 
73-81 
75-59 
76-92 
100-00 
100-00 
100-00 
100 00 
Pelts. (28, 29, 30, 31, 35, 36, 37, 38, 47.) 
The skins from which the wool has been removed are known as “ pelts,” 
and these at the freezing-works are usually treated for shipment by curing 
or preserving them in order to withstand bacterial decomposition. 
The pelt as it comes from the fellmongery and from the hands of 
the puller contains a large amount of foreign matter, chiefly fat, hair 
and wool fibres, and detritus in the form of the lime and sodium sulphide 
which has been used as a depilatory to loosen the wool. The pelts are 
first washed in pits or “ dollies,” with paddles revolving, in order to 
thoroughly remove as much as possible of the adhering detritus. The 
washing-water should either be running or changed several times during 
this process. It has been found advantageous, if the water contains dis¬ 
solved carbon dioxide, to add lime-water before the wash-water reaches 
the pelts, to combine the carbon dioxide with lime as carbonate in the 
wash-water, and so prevent “ blasting ” of the grain of the pelt should the 
carbon dioxide form a carbonate with the lime in the pelt substance. 
The pelts are then limed bv being paddled in a “ dolly ” with a saturated 
milk-of-lime moisture ; this has the effect of swelling the pelts and of 
loosening the adhering flesh and fatty tissues in order to enable the subse¬ 
quent fleshing operation to be carried out expeditiously. The pelts after 
being paddled for some hours are placed flat in piles in a heap to drain away 
the surplus moisture and lime mixture. In the heap the limed pelts undergo 
a further loosening of the tissues, and may remain thus for a period up to 
ten days, when they are ready for fleshing. This process is the removal 
of loose fatty tissue and adhering portions of flesh from the inner or 
“ flesh ” side of the skin. 
