530 FIBRES 



himself, and jute was collected by him at these markets 

 to sell to the big baling firms at large centres. In some 

 cases, indeed, large firms were in the habit of advancing 

 very considerable sums oi money to the bepari to purchase 

 jute on their behalf. In recent years, as has already been 

 remarked, European baling firms at large centres have 

 found it to their advantage to form their own buying 

 agencies at small country markets, where they compete 

 with the bepari in buying from the j arias. Their pur- 

 chases are, if possible, placed in country boats and towed 

 by launches to headquarters, where the jute is sorted 

 into a number of qualities, usually designated Nos. i, 2, 

 3, 4, and " rejections," and then baled. 



The chief of the large centres for the purchase of jute 

 are Narainganj, Chandpur, Madaripur, Sirajganj, 

 Jagannathganj, Demah, Jalpaiguri, Purnea, Kushtia, 

 Goalundo, etc. Of these Narainganj, which deals with 

 nearly 25 per cent, of the total jute crop, is by far the 

 most important. It is ideally situated on a fine broad 

 river, whose banks are lined for a long distance on either 

 side with jute warehouses. In the middle of the jute 

 season the river is a very busy highway navigated by 

 large numbers of craft, from the largest river steamers 

 and huge flats to the smallest country boats, and the 

 whole scene is amply sufficient evidence, if such were 

 needed, o<f the magnitude and importance of the premier 

 industry of Bengal. 



In a large centre like Narainganj some firms deal 

 only with Calcutta, while others bale for export also. 

 The former commonly use a small press, producing a 

 3 to 3J maund bale. For export the standard 5 maund 

 (400 Ib.) bale is universal. Of the jute which goes into 

 Calcutta, the greater proportion ultimately finds its way 

 to the Calcutta jute mills; but a large quantity is also 

 rebaled after sorting for export. Each exporting firm 

 has one or more "marks" or standards of quality, and 

 the sorting is done with this object in view. Thus, 

 although the jute may have been sorted already up 

 country, the standard of the up-country dealer does not 

 always agree with that of the particular " mark " for 

 which the Calcutta export baler is known, necessitating 

 a readjustment of quality. It should be said that the 



