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American Tanning Grading Standards |
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The
standard of American alligator skins is decided by measure and
grade. MEASURING METHOD
In
measuring, the skin should be laid flat on a surface and smoothed.
The measurement is to be made at the widest point of the
belly (approximately the 8th bone).
The width is then measured between the two inner sides of the
hard bones, excluding the horns themselves.
The measurement is to be made in centimeters and fractions of
a centimeter are to be rounded downward. GRADING METHODAlligator
skins are graded as I, I/II, II/III, III/IV, and IV/V (reject). They are judged according to the following features: 1. The shape of the skin. 2. Scars, cuts, scratches, and holes (hereafter referred
to as “cut/hole”). Cut/holes
are classified as below:
a.
Cut/hole 1: The
diameter of the cut/hole is up to 10 mm.
The width and length of the cut/hole is up to 5mm and 20 mm
b.
Cut/hole 2: The
diameter of the cut/hole is up to 20 mm.
The width and length of the cut/hole is up to 5 mm and 40 mm. 3.
Osteoderms (hereafter referred to as “buttons”) The belly skin is divided into
“pattern” and “area outside of pattern”.
This “pattern” is divided into the following three main areas,
in order of importance: 1.
The belly. 2.
The head. 3.
The tail. Grade I: The skin should be well tanned, well bleached, and free of
any stains or discoloration. It
should have a full size, four legs, and a row of hard horns on each side.
The skin should be without any cut/holes or buttons in the belly
area. Up to 10 neck bones may
exist in the neck area and up to 1 cut hole may exist in the head or tail
pattern (not both) and still be considered first grade.
Grade I/II: The skin should be well tanned, well bleached, and free of any stains or discoloration. It should have a full size, four legs, and a row of hard horns on each side and may have the following defects:
1.
One cut/hole 1 on the belly but with head and tail clear.
2.
One cut/hole 1 on the head and tail, but belly clear. 3.
One cut/hole 2 on the head or tail, but belly clear. 4.
Tail missing up to 50%. 5.
Up to 4 buttons within belly pattern. Note: A skin that has any two of the above conditions is not
allowed as grade I/II. Grade
II/III: The skin should be well tanned, well bleached, and free of
any stains or discoloration. It
should have a full size, four legs, and a row of hard horns on each side
and may have the following defects: 1.
Up to two cut/hole 2 on the belly and one cut hole 2 on tail
and head, or vice versa. 2.
Up to six cut/hole 1 or three cut/hole 2 on the head and
tail. 3.
Tail missing up to 75% 4.
Up to 10 buttons within belly pattern. Note: A skin that has any two of the above condition is not allowed
as grade II/III. Grade
III/IV: The skin should be well tanned, well bleached, and free of
any stains or discoloration. It
should have a full size, four legs, and a row of hard horns on each side
and may have the following defects: 1.
Up to six cut/hole 1 or three cut/hole 2 within the belly
pattern, or vice-versa. 2.
Up to ten cut/hole 1 or five cut/hole 2 within the head and
tail pattern, or vice versa. 3.
Tail missing up to 100% 4.
Up to 20 buttons within belly pattern Note: A skin that has any two of the above conditions is not
allowed as grade III/IV. Grade IV/V (reject): Skins which fall out of the above categories and also;
1.
Skins that are poorly tanned or badly stained. 2. Skins that are wrinkled and without substance
(sick alligators).
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