138 



LOAD 



particular class of goods. Owing to the dirty state of the fleeces, and the peculiar 

 nature of the dusty particles arising during the progress of sorting, the operation is 

 an unhealthy one, unless great care be taken by ventilation to counteract this baneful 

 effect. After being sorted, it is at Saltaire Trashed and combed by machinery. "Until 

 of late years it was combed wholly by hand, and the combs used for this purpose 

 were of a deeper pitch than those usually adopted for preparing sheep's wool, that 

 is, those combs had a larger number of teeth than ordinary. The next process is to 

 draw the sliver, which is perfected by an improved gill-machino, especially adapted 

 for this material. And here, in combing and preparing the alpaca-wool, so as to 

 make a clean, even, and glossy thread, lay the grand difficulty in the way of applying 

 the alpaca-fibre to the worsted manufacture, and which was so successfully surmounted 

 by Sir Titus Salt. 



The main articles now manufactured from alpaca-wool consists of alpaca lustres, 

 which are dyed, and alpaca mixtures, which are undyed ; and both are made of cotton 

 or silk warp. These plain goods may, from their extensive and steady use, be termed 

 stock-articles. Largo quantities of fancy alpacas are made, but they are rapidly vary- 

 ing, and are distinguished by innumerable names. The material is at present much 

 shorter in staple than formerly, owing to the alpaca being shorn oftener, so that it is 

 now commonly from 5 to 8 inches in length. Nearly all the alpaca-wool consumed in 

 England is worked up in the Bradford district. 



Dating from the year 1834, when the importation of alpaca-wool sprung up as a 

 permanent branch of commerce, the demand in this country has, on the whole, been 

 a growing one. Mr. Walton, in his work on the alpaca, exhibits the quantities im- 

 ported until the year 1843, when, the tariff law having come into operation, the 

 returns began to be more correctly framed, and the alpaca-wool was then classed by 

 itself. 



Our imports were in 1843, 1,458,032 Ibs. ; in 1853, 2,148,267 Ibs. These largo 

 quantities were yet increased in 1863, when we imported from Peru, 2,772,836 Ibs. ; 

 from New Granada, 622,889 Ibs. ; and 6,857 Ibs. from other parts ; and the Imports 

 of llama, alpaca, and vicuna during the three years ending 1872 were as follows : 



In the interval, the price had, with the demand, progressively increased : the price 

 in 1834 only amounted to about 8$d. per pound; next year it reached nearly 10^.; 

 the year after, Is. ; in 1838, to upwards of Is. 3%d. ; and in 1839 to Is. 4<2. 



During the last ten years the prices have fluctuated considerably. In 1844, Is. Sd. 

 per pound was quoted as the price of the white fleece, and 2s. for the black one. In 

 the year 1855, according to the price-currents, the average rates were thus quoted : 



Alpaca, best white 



brown and black 

 Vicuna, best dark coloured 

 Llama .... 



s. d. s. d. 



2 6 to 2 8 



2 6 2 8 



3 3 6 

 10i 1 3 



But these quotations are somewhat higher for alpaca-wool than the prices now 

 realised, which of late years have ranged from 2s. to 2s. 2d. per pound. 



Alpaca Pat was shown in the Exhibition of 1862, and was stated to be remark- 

 able in its power of resisting rancidity. It was thought this would make it valuable 

 to the arts, especially in perfumery. 



IOA3>. A burthen or freight. As the various quantities of material contained 

 in a load cannot but be useful, the following Table is borrowed from Mr. P. L. Sim- 

 monds's ' Trade Products,' &c. : 



Corn . . 5 qrs. or 40 bushels. 

 Straw . . 36 trusses, or 11 cwte. 



64 Ibs. 



Old hay . 18 cwts. 

 New hay . 19 cwts. 32 Ibs. 



Bricks . . 500. 



Tiles . . 1,000. 



Lead ore (in Derbyshire) 9 dishes or 



nearly 3 cwts. 

 Bulrushes . 63 bundles. 



