RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE HOSIERY MANUFACTURE. 87 



111 Scotland, 2,605. In Ireland, 265. Total stocking looms in the three 

 kingdoms, 48,482. In all former estimates the number of frames not 

 at work had not been taken into account. This will in some measure 

 give the reason ior the large apparent, though not real, increase under 

 long-continued bad trade. 



The number of persons directly employed by these machines would 

 be when fully at work, about 100,000, one at each, and another winding, 

 seaming, &c, the rest taking work out and in. The wages did not 

 average in 1844 quite 7s. a week for those at the machines throughout 

 the trade, a lower sum than earned by any other staple trade. The 

 hours of work were long, and the labour severe. The returns were* 

 calculated to be for silk hosiery, 383,763/. ; cotton, 998,700/. ; worsted 

 and mixed, 1,223,750/. ; flax, 6,500/. Total, 2,562,763/. Composed of 

 materials, 705,780/. ; wages, expenses, and profits, 1,856,983/. 150,000 lbs. 

 weight of silk ; 6,000,000 lbs. of cotton ; and 8,000,000 lbs. of worsted 

 and mixed were consumed. Up to the date of that census these frames 

 had been almost entirely worked in dwelling-houses, or collected in 

 small shops only. Since. 1844, the demand for hosiery has exceeded the 

 supply ; and thus a gradual but most important improvement has taken 

 place throughout the trade. But the years 1861-2 have been exceptional, 

 from the dearth of cotton wool ; depriving us also of the United States 

 market, where previously we had a most important outlet for our goods. 

 The hours of labour have been lessened, and the rate of wages has 

 risen from fifty to 100 per cent, since 1844, according to the classes of 

 goods made. By an invention orignated by Mr. Brunei, but improved 

 and made more useful since, a circular head, garnished with hooks at 

 its circumference, is used to produce a looped sack — therefore without a 

 seam. It works with almost incredible speed. One of these will turn 

 off, using eight feeders to deliver the yarn, 350 rounds, or a yard in 

 length, of medium quality per minute of a head twelve inches round ; 

 or 150 dozens of women's hose in a week. Several of these heads can 

 be managed by one person. The quantity of yarn used and number of 

 dozens produced are immense. The prices at which they are sold is 

 according to weight, but very low indeed. They are cut into shape by 

 scissors, and are sewn up by hand or by stitching machines. Instead of 

 ruining the trade as was feared, they have proved to be pioneers of the 

 use of stockings in lands where they were previously not known or 

 not worn : and have helped to raise wages through the trade. Women 

 overlooking these "roundabouts" earn 12s. to 20s. a week with ease. 

 The men employed about them gain 20s. to 35s. weekly. There are 

 1,500 sets (each averaging ten to twelve heads) in the trade, making 

 hose, shirts, drawers, &c. They are worked in factories, and by steam. 

 That is the case also with the " rotaries," which are forty inches and 

 upwards in width, making goods in a straight line from side to side, and 

 producing four, six, or eight hose at once. Of these there are probably 

 1,500 at work, at which the men set 20s. to 30s. a week wages. Those 



