SKINS (FR., Poutz ; GER., MOO.
Skins whose industrial value depends upon the attached hair or feathers, rather than upon tho corium itself, havo been dc,scribed under Feathers (pp. 904-9) and Fur (pp. 1029-33); ,there remain for description in the present article those skins and hides (the latter term being com mercially applied to tho skins of the larger mammab3) which are valued for themselves. As the structure and morphology of hide have been treated of at lengtb in Leather (pp. 1213-40), the present article will be concerned chiefly with the trade in skins, which possesses no small iinportance. Many of the statistics relating to skins are collective, and not specific ; these will be grouped under tbe heads of the respective countries, after all accessible details have been given upon each kind of skin.
Alligator.—In the S. United States, notably Florida, the supply of alligator-skins amounts to many thousands annually, and the " farming" of the reptiles for their skins is even spoken of. The principal market for them is Europe, but no statistics of the trade are published.
Arinadillo.—Tho skins of this animal were exported from Brunei (Borneo) to Singapore to the value of 121 dol. (of 4s. 2d.) in 1879.
Ass.—Ilankow exported 2402i piculs in (of 1331 lb.) of asses' skins in 1878, and 1068 piculs in 1879.
Buffalo.—Manilla (Philippines), in 1878, exported 379 tons of buffalo-skins, value 12,130/., and 274 tons of cuttings, 6579/. Hankow exported 1091 piculs in 1878, and 1238 in 1879. Brunei (Borneo) sent 1362 dol. (of 4s. 2d.) worth to Singapore in 1879. The approximate London market values of buffalo-skins are :—Bidavia, 4-7d. a lb.; Bengal, 3-6d.; other sorts, 24-6id.
Calf.—Haraburg exported to Great Britain of calf and other skina in 1876, 20,731 cwt.; in 1877, 27,550 ; 1878, 1,1,583; and in 1879, 19,287 cwt. The Hawaiian Islands sent 168 pieces to Germany in 1879. Christiania sliipped 31,000 kroner (of ls. lid.) worth to Great Britain in 1878, and 300 ler. in 1879. The exports from Archangel (including seal) in 1878 were 335 pieces to Holland, and 23,108 to Germany, total value 2343/. Honolulu, in 1878, exported 651 piecea, being 500 to Germany, 135 to China, and 16 to the United States. Memel, 1879, sent landwise over the Russian frontier for German markets, 34,400 pieces, value 5450/. The approximate London
market value of calf-skins is 15-34d. a lb.
Decr.—San Joad (Costa Rica) exported 21,121 lb. in 1878. Kiungchow (China) exported 17,544 pieces, value 541/., in 1879. Ciudad Bolivar (Venezuela), in 1879, sent 77,305 pieces (168,176i lb.) to New York, and 14,695 pieces to Germany. Gustemala, in 1879, exported 2353 pieces to Germany, 693 to New York, and 100 to Belize. Pentane, ahipped 765/. worth of deer and other skins to the United States in 1879. Costa Rica exported 82,168 lb. in the year ended April 30, 1879. Puerto Cabello (Venezuela), in 1879, shipped 2466 kilo. (of 2.2 lb.) to Groat B1 Itain, 11,619 to Germany, 6182 to the United States, and 1281 to Holland. The Commercial Society of Mozambique sold 41 deer, 391 buck, 2168 blesbok, and 3071 other antelope skins at Rotterdam in Juno 1876. The approximate London market values of deer skins are : Blesbok, Cape, 6-17d. a lb.; Deer, E. Indian, 22-50s. a doz.
Dugong and Manatec,—The skins of these animals, more important perhapa as oil-yielders (see p. 1365), are smooth, bluish-black in colour, and nearly 1 in. thick. They are well adapted for machine-belting. About 50 are shipped annually from Queensland, Fish.—The skins of many true fish are strung, firm, and durable, and capable of wide industrial application. Flat-fish give a skin suitable for gloves amd fine upper leather. Sole-skins will make purses. Thornback-skins may replace sandpaper for cabinet-making purposes. Eel-skins will make strong braces. Siluroid skins are largely converted into gloves at Colborn, in Canada. Torsk-skins have been made into shoes. Some Red Sea fish-skina are utilized for sandal-making iu Egypt. Burbot-skins form durable bags used by some Tartar tribes. Sahnon-skins make a leather as tough as wash-leather, and about the thickness of dog-skin, the acale-marks giving a neat pattern ; they are employed in clothing by some of the peoples of E. Asia. The skins of the sea-angel, thorny shark, tiger shark, and some skates are used for burnishing, and for covering boxes. Ray-skins are converted into shagreen ; France imported 18,000 lb. of them in 1863, chiefly from Portugal. The blue dog-fish gives a skin which is widely used for polishing.