Crocodile skin used for leather, 1968

This crocodile skin is being processed in Australia; many were sent overseas to be turned into manufactured goods. With crocodiles it is the belly skin that is valuable – the centre of the back is useless for manufacturing items as it is thick. Crocodile skin is particularly esteemed for its typical square pattern, and skins with smaller squares are judged to be more beautiful. Photograph by Wolfgang Sievers, Collection of the National Archives of Australia