Extracts from the Japanese Reptile Association Standards for Grading Wet Salted Crocodile Skins
Grading Method
Wet salted skins are judged according to the following features and are graded as first grade, second grade, third grade and reject.
(A) State of preservation
(B) Shape of skin
(C) Flaying of skin
(D) Scars, cuts, scratches and holes (hereinafter called cut/hole). Cut/hole to be
classified as belows:
cut/hole type i) diameter of cut/hole up to 10 mm.Width and length up to 5 mm to 20 mm.
cut/hole type ii) diameter of cut/hole up to 20 mm.Width and 'Length up to 5 mm & 40 mm.
(E) Buttons
Belly Skins Over 25 cm in Width or Under 91 cm in Length
The skin is divided into the pattern and the area outside it. The pattern is divided into the following three parts in order of importance:
Belly
Head (see fig. 6)
Tail
(1) First Grade
The skin should be fresh and well preserved and its. Fresh should have been taken away completely from the underside. it should be full sized and have four legs and two rows of hard horns (scutes) on both sides. It should not have any cut/hole (D) nor buttons (E). A skin with one or two cut/hole type i) outside the pattern, however, is allowed as first grade.
(2) Second Grade
The definition for first grade is applied as a rule but a skin which has the following condition is allowed as second grade:
(a) one cut/hole type i) on belly but head and tail clear
(b) one each cut/hole type i) on head and tail but belly clear
(c) scale lifting or scale slip of 5-6 pieces in any spot within pattern
(d) more than -2 of tail present
(e) one leg missing
(f) one or two buttons within patterns
Note. A skin which has any two of conditions (a), (b) and (f) is not allowed as second grade.
(3) Third Grade
The definition for second grade is applied as a rule but a skin which has the following conditions is allowed as third grade:
(a) one or two cut/hole type i) within pattern
(b) one cut/hole type ii) on belly
(c) one each cut/hole type ii) on head and tail
(d) scale lifting or scale slip of less than 1/5 of the total skin area
(e) two or more legs missing
(f) more than 1/4 of tail present
(g) ten or less buttons within pattern
Note. A skin which has any two of conditions except (d) is not allowed as third grade.
(4) Rejects
Any skin not allowed as third grade and/or which is not fresh and not well-preserved (having ammonia smell and/or spongy appearance) shall be rejected.
Belly Skins Under 25 cm in Width or Under 91 cm in Length
The definitions for larger skins are applied as a rule but skins which have any one of the following conditions or have any combination of each condition mentioned above are graded down
condition (c) of second grade
condition (b),(c) and (d) of third grade
Hornback Skins Over 25 cm in Width or Over 91 cm in Length
The Hornback skin is divided into three main areas in order of importance (see fig. 6)
Back (horny part, including nuchal shield)
Belly (lying each side of back)
Tail
(1) First Grade
The skin should be fresh and well-preserved and its flesh should have been taken away
completely from the underside. It should be full-sized and have four legs and should not
have any cut/hole (D). There should be more than 2 cm of skin in front of the nuchal
shield.
(2) Second Grade
The definition for first grade apply as a rule but a skin which has the following condition is allowed as second grade:
(a) one cut/hole type i) on back
(b) one cut/hole type i) on belly and tail
(c) less than 2 cm remaining in front of nuchal shield
(d) scale lifting or scale slip of 5-6 pieces in any one spot
(e) more than -2 of tail present
(f) one leg missing
(g) horns (scutes) of back are generally low or rows are in disorder
(h) centre of nuchal shield deviates less than 1 cm to left or right
(i) nuchal shield is oblong and/or deformed (crocodile only)
Note. A skin which has any two of conditions (a), (b), (g) and (i) is not allowed as second grade.
(3) Third Grade
The definition for second grade is applied as a rule but a skin which has the following condition is allowed as third grade:
(a) one or two cut/hole type (i) on back and/or belly
(b) one cut/hole type ii) on back or belly
(c) scale lifting of less than 1/5 of the total skin area
(d) centre of nuchal shield deviates less than 2 cm to left or right
(e) more than 1/3 of tail present
(f) two or more legs missing
Note. A skin which as any two of conditions (a), (b), (e) and (f) is not allowed as third grade.
(4) Rejects
All skins not allowed as third grade and/or which have extremely low horns (scutes) and/or which are not fresh and well-preserved (having ammonia smell and/or spongy appearance) are rejects.
Hornback Skins Under 25 cm in Width or Under 91 cm in Length
The definition for larger skins is applied as a rule but skins having any one of the following conditions or any combination of each condition above are graded down.
Condition (d) of second grade
Condition (b) and (c) of third grade.
