The butted hides are stripped in the water workshop. The first operation is to soak the skins in 30¡ C warm water. This process, referred to as dirt soaking, removes the salt, dirt, and dung and at the same time returns the hide its original flexibility. Afterwards the skin is further cleansed in the liming process. This allows easy removal of the hair. The hide then undergoes the fleshing and stroking processes, during which it is laid briefly in warm water and subsequently on a fleshing machine to strip off any rest fat and hair. The last stage of the dirt soaking is the de-liming. Here the pelt is neutralised and so prepared to allow a thorough penetration of the tanning agents.