Excerpts from the report Summary: In-plant curing costs may mean the difference between profit and loss for many hide processing firms. Efficiency in hide curing also has an important impact on the ability of the American hide and leather industries to compete effectively in domestic and foreign markets. Accordingly, this study was conducted to provide hide processors with guidelines for lowering their marketing costs and increasing their processing efficiency. Data were obtained on the costs, labor, and equipment requirements from 21 hide firms of various sizes curing hides by the following methods: (1) pack salting, (2) agitated brine curing, (3) brine curing of fleshed hides by the pit method, and (4) agitated brine curing of fleshed hides.