178 CORDAGE FIBRES 



COMMERCIAL VALUE 



The market price of the fibre fluctuates in sympathy 

 with that of Manila hemp. The average value of the 

 best Mexican Sisal hemp on the London market during 

 the years 1 907-1 9 1 4 was about 2 5 per ton . The best 

 fibre from East Africa usually realises i or more per 

 ton in advance of that of the Mexican product. The 

 extent to which the price is liable to fluctuation is 

 illustrated by the following statistics. During 1908, 

 Mexican Sisal was quoted at from 25 to 27 per 

 ton. In 1909, the price fell gradually from 26 in 

 January to 24 in April, and then rose rapidly to 

 29 i os., and remained at that figure from June to 

 December. During 1910, the value gradually declined 

 from 29 i os. in January to 20 in December. In the 

 first half of 1911, the price was about 19-^20, but 

 rose during the second half of the year to 22 los. 

 During the months of January to June 1912, quota- 

 tions varied from 24 105. to 25 ios., but during the 

 latter half of the year the value rose to 37 ios. in 

 November, and subsequently fell to 35 ios. per ton. 

 The price remained at about this figure until September, 

 1913, and then fell until in December the fibre was 

 quoted at about 28 per ton. In 1914, prices declined 

 somewhat during the first six months of the year, 

 remained at about 26 ios. during July and August, 

 and during the last four months fluctuated between 

 20 and 25 per ton. During 1915 considerable em- 

 barrassment was caused in the trade, owing to the 

 political situation in Mexico and the increased 

 freights due partly to the European war, and prices 

 were therefore very erratic and uncertain, rising to- 

 wards the end of the year to about 38 per ton. 



UTILISATION OF SISAL REFUSE 



In the course of extracting the fibre from agave 

 leaves, a large quantity of refuse is produced. A 

 good deal of consideration has been devoted to deter- 

 mining the best way of utilising this material. At the 

 present time, the greater part of it appears to be used 



