Eel leather boots by Dolce and GabanaEel leather beltEel leather briefcaseThe inshore hagfish (eel)

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Eel leather

Eel leather belt
Eel leather belt

The particular eel that is used to make leather is the hagfish, the inshore hagfish. It is a very remarkable fish because they are slimy and covered all over with mucus. They eat carcasses of other dead fish.

Okay, we're getting all sorts of reactions. We'll skip it.

The prettier side of things. The leather is indeed very beautiful. The eel leather is smooth and with elegant horizontal stripe-like patterns. It's just simply good to look at.

Very little is known about this particular eel as you can see below.

Stuff to Know

Animal:
Inshore Hagfish (Eptatretus burgeri)
Maximum size & weight:
The Inshore hagfish can grow to a maximum length of 116 cm (approx. 46 inches).
Maximum age:
Unknown.
Protected?
The Inshore hagfish are not protected.
Where it lives in the wild
The are found in South Korea, Taiwan, China, and Japan.
Where is it farmed?
They are not farmed but are caught in the wild. The glass eel are farmed in the UK for meat.
Dangerous to humans?
No. They can be an annoying pests to fishermen. They eat the fish caught in the nets while it is being hauled up onto the boat or even when the catch is in the boat.
Afraid of humans?
Yes, they are. After all, they are fish.
People injured yearly

There are no recorded injuries directly involved with the inshore hagfish.

On a side note, credit cards and ATM cards are perfectly safe in eel leather wallets. There were concerns about the cards malfunctioning as the eel leather may have come from the moray or electric eel and somehow cause the cards to become damaged.

People killed yearly by
These eels can be slippery and with all slippery things, accidents happen. No, we do not have available statistics.
Is meat edible?
Oh yes, it is. It is a favorite among the Japanese.
Taste of meat
It is tender and juicy.
Living habits:
The inshore hagfish usually burrows in the mud of the bottom of the sea. When it is time to spawn it will migrate to a deeper part of the sea. Their spawning habits is seasonal, this behavior being unique compared to other eels.
Eating habits:

The inshore hagfish eats fishes, dead meat, and marine worms. Example of marine worms are tube worms and milkweed butterfly.

Now we do not hear much about marine worms. In short, they are invertebrate animals living in the sea and are at the bottom of the food chain of the sea. They come in various sizes, shapes and color. These marine worms are found in underwater boulders and rocks, sand and mud, the last being the particular ones the inshore hagfish like to eat.

Farming style:

Now this particular eel, the inshore hagfish, is not farmed. The glass eel is the one that's farmed and are called eel cultures. These eel cultures can be found parts of the UK and France.

Harversting weight and size:
They are caught and eaten but we do not have information on its size and weight when caught. A pity. A delicious treat that such information has been neglected?
Skin processing:

The process begins with the skin removed of all flesh. After it has been fleshed, it is removed of fats and oils. Then it is dyed and cut, pressed, assembled with separate linings and other materials. Then it is ironed (in a special way), polished and applied a waterproof agent.

Many believe that eel leather may prevent disaster, and according to Greek mythology it brings good luck & health.

Leather durability:
It's not to strong, very thin. For all normal purposes, eel leather is durable. If it is exposed to the elements frequently, it will needs constant conditioning/moisturizing.
Leather softness:
It is very soft to the touch and also smooth.
Other Leather features:

The eel leather is more shiny and smooth than most leather types. As it is continually used, it becomes softer and more supple.

Many believe that eel leather may prevent disaster, and according to Greek mythology brings good luck & health. If this were true, those who have eel leather wallets and handbags frequently win the lottery. I had better get one soon.

Leather relative value (1-10) in finished products.
9

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