Since then I've been told that all animals can't be skinned alive.

Is that so?
I just sliced 'em down, and peeled off the jackets in the best way I could.

Of course I knew enough to have thin boards to fasten the pelts to when drying, and they seemed to be all hunk when I shipped 'em; but somewhere I biffed it.

Now, what d'ye s'pose was wrong with my work ?" Owen smiled as if he knew instinctively.
"When they said the furs were misfits they meant that you had not taken them off the right way.

Some skins have to be cased, that is removed entire, or turned inside out, and not cut down the belly first, which injures their sale.