WANTED Eel skin

[French Colonial]

In several period documents the writer references the use of eel skin, natives used it to tie up their scalp locks and natives and frontiersmen used it for leg ties. I have looked before and never found any, does any one know a source for suitable eel skin????

 

[andy52]

There are some on eBay just search there.

 

[French Colonial]

There are some on eBay just search there.

Thanks, not a big fan of ebay but I will take a look.

Thanks

 

[2 shots]

seafood shop ??

 

[andy52]

Thanks, not a big fan of ebay but I will take a look.

Thanks

There are some at Etsy also.

 

[French Colonial]

There are some at Etsy also.

Thanks!

 

[andy52]

No problem leather is my thing...

 

[Johnny Tremain]

They use ell and stingray skin for the handles of Japanese swords.

Find a sword shop

 

[hawkenhunter50]

Catch an Eel and skin it.

 

[hawkenhunter50]

I do a lot of canoeing and fishing on the Delaware River between PA and NY. On the Upper Delaware there are a lot of eel weirs. They are made for trapping eels. I searched and found an article about a guy that traps them and sells them. It mentions he may be retiring but perhaps it will give you a lead for some skins.

https://www.newyorkupstate.com/outd...g-and-selling-eels-on-the-delaware-river.html

 

[Snapper Petta01]

@hawkenhunter50 - Spent my summers as a kid living along the Delaware River on the PA side halfway between Skinner's Falls and Narrowsburg. There was an eel trap just above our house that I fished near over many summers. It was interesting to see the owner come out to clear the trap of eels so he could get them to market. Great memory from my youth! Thanks for posting that article.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[French Colonial]

No eels around where I live, never seen one in the wild.

 

[andy52]

No eels around where I live, never seen one in the wild.

There are eels in the Mississippi River, not in great numbers but I have caught a few.

 

[French Colonial]

There are eels in the Mississippi River, not in great numbers but I have caught a few.

I did not know that, but then again I have never fished in it either.

 

[andy52]

I did not know that, but then again I have never fished in it either.

They are the only females in the Freshwater River here males live in salt water only.
The females live their lives in freshwater and then migrate to the ocean to mate.

 

[hawkenhunter50]

@hawkenhunter50 - Spent my summers as a kid living along the Delaware River on the PA side halfway between Skinner's Falls and Narrowsburg. There was an eel trap just above our house that I fished near over many summers. It was interesting to see the owner come out to clear the trap of eels so he could get them to market. Great memory from my youth! Thanks for posting that article.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

One of my favorite day floats is from Callicoon to Skinners Falls. It is a beautiful river. Just went to supper last night in Barrysville at the restaurant At Rivers Edge. Some pretty neat history also at the river during the American Revolution at the battle of Minisink.

 

[French Colonial]

So I have bought some eel skin off of ebay, still not sure what I am going to do with it.

I already have some quilled leg ties that are very nice so I may make a hat band out of it, I will see what it looks like when it arrives and try to put it to good use.

Thanks to all for your suggestions on sources......

 

[LeeC.]

Here's a suggestion I'd use.
I use alot of large eels for catfishing.

Don't mean to be rude or gross, but perhaps a good bait shop may have some large eels? If so, grab em by head, with a wet rag. Chop off head and skin em. That skin is thin but very very tough. I'd dry it out with salt, I'm guess how the Indians or old timers did it?. Wish I knew ya wanted some...be easy for me to do for you..alway use big eels for big cats!

Borax may work too?

 

[SOLANCO]

Do not know if you really want eel skin. I have a couple of billfolds from rayskin. Wear like iron, and I imagine a sword/dagger grip made of it would be excellent. Even blood doused would offer a good hold.

 

[French Colonial]

Do not know if you really want eel skin. I have a couple of billfolds from rayskin. Wear like iron, and I imagine a sword/dagger grip made of it would be excellent. Even blood doused would offer a good hold.

Yes I really want eel skin, first hand accounts document the use of eel skin for leg ties and tying up scalplocks etc. I have not read of the use of rayskin being used in the French controlled areas in any documentation.
This would include the Mississippi valley, Missouri water shed, Great Lakes, Canada and the lower part of the Ohio river valley.