[Sca-cooks] 13th Century Icelandic Fish Skin Tanning Techniques

[Daniel Phelps]

Was asked:

>I never knew they tanned fish skin in 13th century Iceland. WHat do you
>_do_ with tanned fish skins?


Shark leather, from which sharks I am not sure, is, if I am not mistaken,
quite valuable even to the present day and, again if I am not mistaken, was
used in wrapping the hilts of Japanese swords.  Reputedly it doesn't slip in
the hand when it gets wet/bloody.  I seem to remember some uses for eel skin
as well, ...condoms perhaps? :-}

Daniel Raoul