SILK MANUFACTURE 799 



There is a peculiar kind of silk called marabout, containing generally three threads, 

 made from the white Novi raw silk. From its whiteness, it takes the most lively and 

 delicate colours without the discharge of its gum. After being made into tram by 

 the single twist upon the spinning mill, it is reeled into hanks, and sent to the dyer 

 without further preparation. After being dyed, the throwster re-winds and re-twists 

 it upon the spinning mill, in order to give it the whip-cord hardness which constitutes 

 the peculiar feature of marabout. The cost of the raw Novi silk is 19s. 6^. a pound ; 

 of throwing it into tram, 2s. 6d. ; of dyeing, 2s. ; of re-winding and re-twisting, after 

 it has been dyed, about 5s. ; of waste, 2s., or 10 per cent. : the total of which sum is 

 31s. ; being the price of one pound of marabout in 1832. 



As nearly as can be ascertained, the following is a correct statement of the present 

 condition of our silk-manufacture (1874): 



The number of silk factories in England and Wales are : Spinning, 227 ; weaving, 

 390 ; spinning and weaving, 39 ; others, 36 : total, 692, Scotland : spinning and 

 weaving, 4. Total in the United Kingdom, 696 factories. 



The number of spindles in the United Kingdom being: Spinning, 940,143; 

 doubling, 190,298. 



The number of power-looms, 12,378. 



The motive horse-power of the machinery employed being ; Steam, 7,604 ; water, 

 985. 



Total number of persons employed, 48,124. 



At present the United Kingdom draws its supply of the raw material for manufac- 

 ture principally from the East Indies ; and France, Italy, Turkey, and China, also 

 supply a considerable amount. About 20 years since, the annual imports for home 

 consumption amounted to 4,734,755 Ibs. 



In 1857, the quantity of 12,077,931 Ibs.- of silk in its several conditions of raw, 

 waste, and thrown, was imported into this country. 



The following represents our Import trade in silk for the year 1873 : 





 Knubs, or husks, and waste . . 31,815 cwts. value 460,128 



Raw 6,445,213 Ibs. 6,758,138 



Thrown 108,794 195,025 



Silk Manufactures. 







Of countries out of Europe ' value 284,889 



countries in Europe 4,752,692 



velvet, plain or figured 691,597 



ribbons 1,705,420 



other kinds 621,494 



plush, used for hats 27,731 



manufactures of silk, or of silk mixed with other mate- 

 rials, unenumerated 1,981,555 



Exports of Silk in 1873. 



Value 





 Thrown, Twist or Yarn 1,667,545 



* 



Manufactures. 



Yards 



Broad stuffs of silk or satin . . 1,696,605 331,293 



Handkerchiefs, scarfs, and shawls . 245,326 



Eibbons of all kinds ... 232,933 



Lace 231,435 



Unenumerated . . . . . 550,522 

 Of Silk and other materials : 



Broad stuffs 1,287,107 196,9/3 



Other kinds 90,118 



Silk imported in 1874. 



Ibs. Value 



From China 2,656,764 1,996,203 



British India . . . 690,871 568,998 



Egypt .... 149,086 130,631 



Other countries . . . 2,446,717 3,321,814 



Total. . 5,943,438 5,017,640 



