Skin Wools

SKIN WOOLS

These are the product of the fellmongering industry as carried on in the Colonies, on the Continent, and in this country to a smaller extent. They consist of the wool removed from the skins of sheep slaughtered for mutton purposes. Many of these " skin " wools are of excellent quality; but large quantities, through unsatisfactory treatment during separation, and because of the absence of sorting, and neglect in skirting, picking, etc., are only useful for medium and low-class goods. Such wools lack spinning property, have a harsh handle, and do not mill and dye in the manner of the " fleece " wools. " Skin " wools are of the following types: - (1) Sun-dried and removed from the skin by a process of sweating; (2) separated by chemical agency, chiefly by sodium sulphide; (3) sliped from the skin after fibre separation through the application of lime (see slipe). Mazamet, France, is a great centre of the fellmongering industry, and a big business is done. Wools that are often of excellent quality and colour are taken from skins collected from all the principal wool-growing parts, and forwarded to all the important manufacturing centres through agents. Wools of Class 2 are largely the product of Colonial fellmongering stations in which the industry is of more recent growth. The system employed is the sodium sulphide process. Sodium suphide has the property of destroying the epidermis of the skin while improving the quality of the pelt. A 10 per cent solution of sodium sulphide will dissolve wool completely in 15 minutes. After washing, the skins are painted on the flesh side with thick paint of sodium sulphide. The skins are allowed to lie overnight, and the roots of the wool become loosened, the hair bulbs being destroyed, after which the wool is readily pulled by hand.