122 



THE COIR FIBRE INDUSTRY 



protection to the bulbs from slugs, to pack between 

 pots of cuttings, and other similar purposes. 



A vast commerce is also conducted in the manu- 

 facture of coir cables, which are not only strong, 

 elastic and buoyant, but are improved and strength- 

 ened by immersion in sea water, although fresh 

 water is said to rot them. These cables are some- 

 what rough to handle, and not quite so neat- 

 looking as those made of hemp, but their greater 

 elasticity renders them superior for many purposes. 

 Large quantities of coir yarn are manufactured in 

 Malabar, the exports being 661,148 cwt. in 1912. 

 Immense quantities are also manufactured in 

 Ceylon and sent to the Straits Settlements, and in 

 1912 103,862 cwt. of coir yarn and 234,565 cwt. of 

 coir fibre were exported from the same source. 



The imports of coir yarn into the United King- 

 dom in 1911 and 1912 were as follows : 



The market prices of these commodities are 

 subject to variation, but the movements are usually 

 within a fairly narrow limit. During the past 



