“In addition to an absence of the characteristics above noted the Mexican and Central American skins are distinguished by having from one to four small dots or markings like pin holes near the caudal end of each scale. The length of the Mexican skins varies greatly in proportion to the width, sometimes equaling that of the Florida skins. Those from the east coast of Mexico are the best, being lighter in color and with neat and attractively shaped scales. The west coast skins are yellowish in color when in the green state, and the scales are larger and not so artistically formed. The Florida and Louisiana skins are almost invariably split down the back, or rather along each side of the back, so as to preserve the under side in a solid piece, but most of the Mexican skins are split down the middle of the abdomen, keeping the back intact, making what is commonly known as ‘horn alligator.’ (See Fig. 15.) “The skin should be removed soon after death as, in warm climates, putrefaction sets in very early and the value of the skin is depreciated. After removal, the flesh side of the skin is thoroughly rubbed with fine salt, and the skin is carefully rolled up with the salted side inside and is ready for shipment, but must be kept in a dry, cool place. Great care must be taken not to cut the hide since small cuts that are not noticeable in the raw skin may be so conspicuous in the dressed skin as to render it of much less value; a large percentage of the hides received in the markets are thus damaged. “Formerly only the ‘belly skin’ was removed, by two longitudinal incisions just below the horny portion of the back; but it was later found that the thick horny skin of the back could be tanned nearly as well as the thinner belly skin, so that the entire skin is now usually removed by a longitudinal incision along the mid-ventral line, with lateral incisions along each leg to the foot (Fig. 15). The entire skin is more commonly taken in Mexico and Central America than in our States. “Although the raw skins are sold according to length, the tanned hides are sold by the width of the leather at the widest part. Standard hides sell for $1.00 to $1.65 per twelve inches of width. Some skins tanned and dyed in a superior manner sell for $2.00 or more for single skins of 2¹⁄₂ feet in length. As a rule the Louisiana skins fetch the highest prices, and those from Florida the lowest. Imitation alligator leather is now prepared in large quantities, principally from sheepskins or the buffing from cowhides. These are tanned according to the usual process, and before the skins are finished they are embossed with the characteristic alligator markings by passing them between two rollers.” (Above-mentioned report, p. 346.) Very little of the leather is now used in making shoes, the chief demand being for handbags, music-rolls, etc.