REELING SILK. 81 



DISBANDING SILK FROM THE REEL. 



We have already spoken of the importance of good 

 reeling ; but in order to ensure a good article, care 

 must be taken in disbanding the silk from the reel. 

 The single fibres of which the thread is composed, 

 are liable to different degrees of stretching as they 

 are wound from the cocoons. This, however, de- 

 pends much upon the assorting of the cocoons if 

 they are well assorted, the degree of extension will be 

 less than if poorly or carelessly assorted. Care in 

 assorting, however, will not wholly overcome the dif- 

 ficulty, because some are necessarily longer in the 

 waterthan others, and therefore yield their silk more 

 readily^ The weak latter ends of some cocoons, also 

 wind oft' with the strong first part of others. The 

 consequence of this is, the fibres are unequally stretch- 

 ed, an I (if taken from the reel too suddenly,) those 

 that are most stretched will contract the most and 

 make a thread less compact and firm. 



To remedy this, let the skein remain on the reel six 

 or eight hours, or until it is dry and the different fi- 

 bres brought to a more uniform degree of extension. 

 This also gives the fibres an opportunity to unite 

 more firmly. After the skein is completely dry and 

 ready to be taken from the reel, squeeze it together 

 all round, to loosen it upon the bars ; and then with a 

 thread, made of refuse silk, tie it in the places where 

 it bore on the bars of the reel. It may then be slid 

 off the reel, and ties should be made opposite to those 

 first made. It should then be doubled, and tied near 

 each extremity, and laid by for use or sale. When 

 the skein is finished, a mark should be tied to the end 



