A company that buys cattle hides, just outside Bellingham, Wash., has been doing business with one of its Canadian suppliers, West Coast Reduction, for decades. One particular transaction this summer went awry and far afield.

West Coast Reduction sent a truckload of hides to the buyer, Friese Hide and Tallow. That’s about 550 or 600 hides, to be sorted, processed and graded.

“When they come to us,” said the owner, Roger Kennedy, “they’re all mixed up.” Friese then ships the hides, usually to the Far East, where they are turned into leather.

Friese paid for the load of hides with a check for $37,080, issued June 21. The check went out with the mail that night, Mr. Kennedy said on Friday. He does not know which mailbox in town was used. “The gal’s on vacation that would have taken it in,” he said.