4 BULLETIN 146, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



not only for their immediate needs, but in many cases for 6, 8, and 

 12 months in advance, thus closing the usual outlet for Sea Island. 



There is no doubt that spinners felt that they had a just cause of 

 complaint against the holders of Sea Island cotton, and that they 

 acted more or less in the same way in protecting" themselves from the 

 danger which seemed to them to threaten their business, but sufficient 

 evidence has not developed to sustain the charge that spinners 

 united to fix prices. From their point of view, the spinners had 

 Egyptian cotton offered in quantities to supply their year's needs 

 and at prices and on terms more satisfactory than those offered by 

 the holders of Sea Island, so the spinners bought the Egyptian cotton 

 and left the holders of Sea Island free to find whatever market they 

 could for their commodity. This market did not develop before the 

 end of the season, September 1, 1913, and in spite of the short crop 

 of only 73,777 bales, more Sea Island cotton than ever before was 

 carried over into the new crop year. 



(2) The competition of Sakellaridis. — Aside from any hitch in the 

 usual methods of buying and selling Sea Island such as occurred 

 during 1912-13, it was bound to meet sooner or later the competition 

 of the new Egyptian variety known as Sakellaridis. This variety is 

 more similar to Sea Island than are most other varieties of Egyptian 

 cotton, and is more vigorous and productive than Sea Island. Its 

 staple is about 1J inches in length, and it is comparatively uniform; 

 it is somewhat coarser than Sea Island and does not mercerize as 

 well; it is harsher and less elastic, but it has fully as much strength 

 as a good quality of Georgias and is decidedly stronger than the 

 lower grades of American Sea Island. Where strength is the chief 

 element to be desired in a yarn or cloth, as in sewing thread or tire 

 cloth, Sakellaridis seems now to be preferred, but in mercerized goods 

 and in high-grade hosiery and underwear Sea Island is still commonly 

 used. At the beginning of the deadlock in November, 1912, Sakel- 

 laridis was about 2 cents cheaper than Sea Island ; on August 30, 1 913, 

 it was being quoted at 3 cents above Georgias and Floridas. The 

 following are some of the reasons given by spinners for preferring 

 Sakellaridis to Sea Island: 



(a) It is manufactured with less waste than the corresponding 

 grade of Sea Island, usually some 4 or 5 per cent. 



(&) It works better in the card room, but some spinners claim that 

 this advantage is offset by less production in the spinning room. 



(c) It makes stronger yarn and stronger cloth. 



(d) It is bought on a net weight basis, and is paid for 10 days after 

 the receipt of the cotton. Sea Island is sold on gross weight and 

 usually f. o. b. cars at southern markets, with sight draft attached to 

 invoice. This results in its being paid for about 30 days before it is 

 received at the New England mills. 



