Improper flaying of Hides.

Manawatu Herald, 10 September 1896, Page 3

Improper flaying of Hides.

-■ ■» ' *• - Tbe Department of Agriculture (Live Stock Branch) has issned as a oircular the letter, received from the London Chamber of Commerce as to the losses sustained by the colonies , in consequences of the improper flaying of hides and skins. Upon j sheepskins the Chamber estimates the loss at 2d each skin over the whole nnmber, and ib adds that one of the largest dressers of sheepskins io the United Kingdom lately said : " Ii it were possible to get the skins from the sheep's back without a knife-mark on the flesh side, I am of opinion that it would add from 2s to 6a per dozen to the value of the j pells." Tbe figures show an annual j loss to Australasia due to bad butchering to be as follows : — Hides, 540,000, at 2s each, £54,000 ; sheepskins, 12.294,668. at 2d eacb, £102,---465 lOs 6d ; total, £156,455 10s 6d. Tliis annual loss would pay interest j At 4 per oent on a capital sura of no less than £8,911,888 23 6d. The | Sftme circular lays stress on the serious inconvenience and expense that spinners and manufactures are pni to in consequence of the use of tar snd other substances in the marking of sheep, and urges the adoption of a less injurious system of indentifioation or marking, it being urged that the adoption of this course would no doubt lead to the value of the wool being considerably enhanced.