LEATHER SPLITTING.

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moved, to give them greater softness and pliability. This removal of the grain iscalled “ frizing,” and it is done either with the round edge of a blunt knife, or withPumice-stone. After being freed from the lime by steeping in fermented bran-water,they are pressed as dry as may be, and are then impregnated with cod-oil, by beatingwith stocks in the trough of a kind of fulling-mill. Previously to the application ofthe oil, they are usually beat for some time alone to open their substance. The oiledskins are stretched, hung up for some time in the air, then fulled with oil as before—aprocess which is 8 or 9 times repeated. The oil is slowly and evenly poured upon theskins in the trough, during the action of the beaters. One hundred skins usually taketip in this way from two to three gallons of oil. The fulled oiled skins are thrown intolarge tubs, and left for some time to ferment, and thereby to combine more intimatelywith the oil. They are lastly subjected to a weak potash ley bath, to strip them of theloosely adhering oil. They are then hung up in the air to dry, and dressed for themarket.

The quantity of hides and skins converted into leather yearly in England is almostincredibly large. Jig: Messrs. Bevington’s establishment alone there are about 250,000skins annually converted into leather by the aluming or tawing process; 220,000 bythe sumach tanning process ; as also a small number by the oil-dressing process. Forthe importation and exportation of skins, untanned and tanned, see Hides.

In 1839, 5,149 Russian tanned hides were imported for home consumption; and in1840, 4,664; of 5s. of duty on the entire hide; and pieces 2s. 6d. per lb.

The declared value of leather exported in 1840 was 320,9121.; weight, 2,404,667 lbs.Saddlery and harness of 96,1671. declared value were exported.

Leather gloves imported for home consumption in 1839, 991,623 pairs; in 1840,1,503,862; average duty, 5s. a dozen.

LEATHER SPLITTING. This operation is employed sometimes upon certain■sorts of leather for glovers, for bookbinders, sheath-makers, and always to give a uni-form thickness to the leather destined for the cotton and wool card-makers.

-Pigs. 88, 89, 90, 91, represent a well contrived machine for that purpose; of which**£• 88, shows the front view, jig. 89, a view from the left side, fig. 91, a gr.ound plan

90 o'