Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 March 1911 — SOME ODD SKINS AND HIDES [ARTICLE]

SOME ODD SKINS AND HIDES

Queer PeSiThat Find Their Way Into American and Canadian <i Market*. Among the skins and hides which find their way Into the American and Canadian markets are the boar skins, which come from Mexico, and the hide of the Mexican peccary, with fur or bristles of a pepper and salt mixture In color, the beast being a savage looking animal alive. Like deer skins, boar hides are shipped dry. The boar skin makes a heavier leather thaw deer Bkin and Is used for glove trimmings. Goat skins in large numbers are Imported from the various Latin American couhtrfes, including the West Indies; but ibp great sources of the World’s supply of goat skins are China, Russia and the East Indies in the order named. From those countries there are imported annually millions of goat skins which are made into leather, 90 per cent, of which Is used In the manufacture of shoes. Goat skins are shipped principally dry. From the countries to the south of the United States afe brought annually some thousands of alligator hides, mostly from Mexico and the AJnlted States of Colombia, with some from Ecuador. These alligators are shot or are speared from boats. Alligator hides are shipped wet salted. If they were once dried they never could be softened sufficiently to be made into leather. To be kept in perfect condition in the hot countries the alligator must be skinned and the hide salted right away. The supply is still sufficient, but in the countries from which the hides are now mainly brought alligators are diminishing In number. There are too many hunters and too many young alligators are taken. Formerly some alligator leather was used for shoes and boots, but now It Is used chiefly in the manufacture of handbags and suitcases. Occasionally a few manatee or sea cow hides, which come from Mexico, /find their way north. These hides are shipped wet salted. The manatee hide tans into a very thick leather, cheaper than walrus leather but used like it for the making of buffing wheels for polishing purposes. » From Mexico also come a few tlgei* cub skins, which are tanned and made up Into rugs.