Skinning and Stretching.
The value by
of the
mink skin
Some
this process.
is
in
189
no way damaged
dealers prefer to have all
the skins they buy cured in this manner. For stretching the muskrat skin I also use a board of the same thickness as for mink, about 20 inches in length, 6^ or 7 inches at the large end with a slightlj^ rounding taper to a width of about 3 inches at small end, the sides planed down to a thin edge the same as for the mink boards; in fact, I prefer the same manner of stretching all cased skins, using care not to have the boards so wide as to stretch the skins to a width much exceeding the natural width before it was placed over the board, but giving them allthe strain they will stand with reason, lengthwise. If stretched too wide it tends to make the fur thinner
and
lessens the value of
it.
the skins, especially muskrats, onto the boards far enough so that the smaller end will extend through the mouth of tlie skin for perhaps | inch, and when the skins are sufficiently dry to remove, all that is required is to take hold of them with a hand on either edge of the skin and give it a sharp tap on the small end, when the skin will come off at once. By stretching the skins on the boards with the back on one side, belly on the opposite side, tliej^ come off the boards looking smooth and uniform in width, and command a great deal better price than if I usually'- pull