_Natives._--Native steer hides are hides from native steers which are free of brands. Another selection of natives is what is called “spreadies,” which are hides taken from native cattle free of brands, cuts, scores, or grubs and must be six feet four inches wide at the shoulders. _Texas._--This is the term used to designate all hides taken off southern cattle where the hide is very thick and heavy. Brands are not taken into consideration on these selections. _Butt Brands._--These are either natives or western hides which are branded on the butts. _Colorados._--These are hides from the western cattle, which are too thin for Texas and are branded on the sides. A distinction is also made in all these hides as to weights, sixty-one pounds and up being heavy, sixty pounds and below being light and fifty pounds and below being extra light. Cow hides are selected as natives and branded cows; bull hides as natives and branded bulls. While all bull hides are not sold as such, hides with a thick neck or pate are sold under this term. =Grubs in Hides.=--There are two cattle “bot-flies” or “warble-flies,” as they are often termed. One of these (_Hypoderma lineata_) is found in the United States, being found more frequently in the southern part of the country. The adult is about the size of a honey bee. The female deposits her eggs in summer in the region of the heel of the animal, causing very much discomfort. In licking the irritated spot the eggs are taken into the mouth of the animal and hatched, the larvae entering the esophagus or gullet and finally working their way into the cellular tissue beneath the skin of the back. In early spring they develop, forming lumps known as “warbles,” and become what are known as “grubs.” After working their way through the skin they drop to the ground, into which they burrow and pupate, finally emerging as adult flies. The damage caused by these insects to the hides amounts to millions of dollars per year, as in general practice five grub holes constitute a “No. 2” hide, on which there is a deduction of one cent per pound. According to the rules of the trade, Texas and branded cows are grubbed from November 1 to June 1, Colorados are grubbed from December 1 to June 1, native steers, native bulls and native cows are grubbed from January 1 to June 1. No allowance is made after June 1 for grubs in hides taken off after that date. =Salt To Be Used.=--The kind of salt generally used in large plants for this purpose is a rock salt, which is a mined product run through crushers and screens. Large lumps are more or less objectionable and if allowed to be used will injure the appearance of the hide. Hides in a pack weigh very heavily per cubic foot and the lower hides are subject to a considerable pressure, or weight. Large lumps of salt between the hides in the pack make bad looking indentations, although they do not necessarily injure the hides for tanning purposes.