120 THE COIR FIBRE INDUSTRY 



Considering the importance of the industry one 

 would have thought that engineers could have 

 evolved machinery for the mechanical stripping of 

 the fibre ; but so far our inquiries show that, 

 while various attempts have been made to con- 

 struct a practical mechanical method for per- 

 forming this operation, the only successful machine 

 is one into which the complete husk and nut are 

 passed, and divided into three portions by circular 

 cutters or millers. These cut right through the 

 husk, shell and nut, all of which fall under the 

 machine, and are then separated one from the 

 other, the husks being taken away to the soaking 

 tanks. 



In this process of soaking the principal con- 

 sideration is its duration : if too prolonged, the fibre 

 becomes weakened, and darkens in colour ; if 

 curtailed, the subsequent extraction and cleansing 

 of the product becomes more difficult. The most 

 approved tanks are constructed of strong brick, 

 iron or wood. The soaking process is now con- 

 siderably shortened by the injection of steam, 

 which increases the temperature of the water, and 

 thus softens and improves the fibre. Its further 

 separation is largely effected by hand. After being 

 beaten with heavy mallets, it is placed in the sun 

 and then again beaten and rubbed between the 

 hands until it disintegrates freely. The spongy 

 matter on and around the fibre falls away in a sort 



