536 FIBRES 



The importance of the jute mill industry of Bengal has 

 already been referred to in dealing with the distribution 

 of the crop. 



Table VI gives statistics regarding the mills. 



TABLE VI. 



The total amount of share capital and debentures 

 invested in these mills now amounts to about 15 crores 

 of rupees, or 10,000,000. The capital is largely 

 European. As has already been stated, the mills consume 

 about half of the total jute crop, or about 40 lacs of 

 bales. To supply the necessary power, over 617,000 tons 

 oi coal are annually required. 



In the period 1903-10 the number of looms in Calcutta 

 mills increased by over 85 per cent. As there was also 

 an extension in foreign plant, and as the rate of pro- 

 duction of the raw fibre did not increase to the same 

 extent, there was increased competition amongst mills 

 for the fibre, resulting in a considerable enhancement in 

 the price of the raw material. So long as the demand for 

 manufactured goods was keen all was well; but in a 

 period of depression in the year 1908-09 there was a 

 tendency to over-production, and it was necessary to 

 restrict the time of working to five days per week hi con- 

 sequence. Later, in the latter half of 1910, the demand 

 for jute goods again asserted itself, and at the present 

 time it is so great that, although last year's crop was 

 probably a record one, it has been almost completely 

 consumed at practically famine prices, and the mills are 

 now said to be in a more favourable position than they 

 have been for years. 



It is impossible in this note to give any description of 

 the processes through which jute go<es in the course of 

 manufacture, but it should be said that a visit to one of 



