LEATHER FROM SHARKS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20473, 30 July 1928, Page 5

LEATHER FROM SHARKS.

NEW PROCESS DISCOVERED. What is claimed to be the first reliable and standardised process discovered in Australia for the production of leather from shark skins has been published by Mr F. A. Coombs, chemist in charge of the Tanning School, Technical Education Department. Waterloo, near Sydney, in a paper read before the New South Wales Leather Industries Scientific Society. By this process—the result of three months’ "xperimentation—the tough, scaly, grey hide stripped from the body of a shark is transformed into a smooth, strong, and strikingly-marked sheet of leather that can be dyed into shades of red, brown, or green, and is excellent material for suiteases and ladies’ handbags and shoes.

Stephenson on behalf of the E.F.C.A., Mr Macandrew for the A.S.R.S., and Mr W. Paul for the Tradesmen’s Association. The toast of the “ Otago Branch, R. 0.1.,” was ably proposed by Mr M. E. Carol!, and the chairman suitably responded. The function then terminated by all present singing “ Auld Lang Syne.” At intervals during the evening the following contributed enjoyable items;— Cornet solo, Mr J. Turnbull; humourous item, Mr Allan Young; vocal solo, Mr G. Gibson; humourous item, Mr James Paterson; xylophone solo, Mr W. Maclennan; vocal solo, Mr V. .W. Couch; vocal solo, Mr A. J. Downing; recitation, Mr C. H. Russell; humourous item, Mr J. Paterson; instrumental quartet, Messrs Maclennan and party; vocal solo, Mr W T . Brooks. Mr S. B. Maclennan was the accompanist.