HIDES. This term is generally used to describe the pelts taken from cows, steers, and bulls of the bovine species and also the pelts from horses. The pelts of other animals are commonly called skins, viz., sheepskins, goatskins, calfskins, etc. Hides are almost entirely a by-product of the meat industry, the supply being determined by the demand for beef. The United States is the largest user of cattle hides, consumption in that country amounting to more than 20,000,000 hides, annually. By far the largest proportion of these hides (approximately 85%) are used in the manufacture of shoes. Hides are also used in the produc tion of machinery belts, harness, luggage, upholstery, garments, gloves, etc.
England, Germany, Italy, the United States, and other large leather producing countries are forced to import hides to augment domestic supplies. Argentina is the largest exporter of hides to these countries, her hide exports in 1938 amounting to hides.
Of this total 1,751,00o went to Germany, 976,00o to the United States, 709,000 to England, and 704,000 to Italy. (See LEATHER.) (E. L. D.)