LOSSES ON WARBLED HIDES. 
39 
“ We venture to think it would be sufficient to state that one-lialf 
of the hides taken in by tanners direct from the butchers are warbled, 
and show an average loss of 5s. to 6s. each ; this would, of course, 
show a rough estimate of some thousands of pounds in the United 
Kingdom, independently of the numbers declared from the markets, 
and we regret to say that many hides which are classed as perfect on 
the market * prove to be covered with minute warble grubs when the 
flesh and hair are removed by the tanner.” 
Various other communications were sent me from tanners as to 
amount of warble-presence in hides sent in, but these have been 
enough entered on under warble-effects in the preceding pages. 
It may not , however , be out of place here to point out what great yooil 
could be done towards warble-prevention by exhibition of warbled hides. 
When the hide is on the animal the mischief is very much hidden by 
the hair; but when the hide is displayed after death, then its loath¬ 
some condition, with the maggots working in it, shows the state of 
the case. The farmer naturally is not likely to be forward to draw 
attention to his beast being warbled ; the cattle salesman or auctioneer 
will (or too often will) declare anything to get a beast, whose back is 
well-nigh eaten up with so-called “ rottenness ” from maggots, off his 
hands ; and for the butcher it would be no gaining speculation to 
show the fearfully disgusting state of hides, beneath which the backs 
were, in the words of Mr. Williams (tanner), of Haverfordwest, 
“ a mass of jelly from warbles.” So the matter gets hushed up, but 
if the real state of the case could be shown it would be thoroughly 
desirable. 
* “ Classed as perfect on the market.” During the time when it was necessary 
I should examine the condition of hide personally, to ascertain what might be going 
on for myself, I was one day examining a newly-flayed warbled hide, shown me by 
a neighbouring butcher on a large scale, who worked a good deal for me on the 
matter of warble investigation; and, with the under side of the warbled hide before 
us, he showed me how to pass a “ grubby ” hide on the inspectors as perfect. Ihe 
process was simple. Just with a penknife to make a little slit across the thin 
tissue covering the maggot; then a gentle pressure frees it, or allows it to come out; 
the puffed-up apparent swelling caused by the maggot-presence sinks down flat; and 
though I did not experiment myself enough to be sure of possibilities of deceiving 
the inspector, I should say that the plan was one which, if not known of, it might 
be well to draw attention to as practicable. It may be well to add that my 
informant was then a butcher doing a large business, and in communication with 
hide firms, but has now retired.— Ed. 
