may also be used but anionic and cationic ones are preferred for the methods in which fatliquoring is done before bating anionic fatliquors are preferred for the method in which fatliquoring is done after bating between the first and second parts of the pickling step cationic fatliquors are preferred fatliquoring the hides is done in an aqueous solution of the fatliquor fatliquoring is done at concentrations of fatliquor from about 1 to 15 weight preferably 2 to 10 weight more preferably 5 to 10 weight relative to the weight of the hides being fatliquored processing times are in the range of 40 to 180 minutes preferred ph ranges are between 1 and 13 depending on the fatliquor used and solution temperature ranges are between 25 and 50 degrees c pickling solutions conventionally used in the tanning industry comprise an aqueous solution of sodium chloride and acid such conventional pickling solutions can be used in the methods of the invention pickling solutions that are preferred for use in the invention comprise aqueous solutions of formic acid sulphuric acid and either sodium chloride potassium chloride or a combination of both salts the salt content is in the range of 3 to 15 weight and the formic acid and sulphuric acid content each in the range of 0 5 to 5 weight all relative to the weight.