[If] one flays either an animal or a beast, either kosher or nonkosher, either small or large, for a spread — enough to grasp it; for a flask — until he flays the breast. [If] he flays it from the feet, it is all [considered] attached as regards tumah, both to contract tumah and to convey tumah. The skin on the neck — R’ Yochanan ben Nuri says: It is not [considered] attached, but the Sages say: It is [considered] attached until he flays it completely.

[If] a hide has an olive’s volume of flesh on it, one who touches a shred that protrudes from it or a hair that is opposite it is tamei. [If] there were two half-olive-sized pieces [of flesh] on it, it conveys tumah through carrying but not through contact; [these are] the words of R’ Yishmael. R’ Akiva says: Neither through contact nor through carrying. But R’ Akiva agrees that [if] one thrust a chip through two half-olive-sized pieces and moved them, he is tamei. Then why does R’ Akiva declare them tahor [when they are] on the hide? Because the hide renders them negligible.