RAW-SILK. 



xxxvii 



agency of the latter was resorted to, the Pykars Report, 

 made advances to the cultivators of the mulberry 

 and rearers of silk-worms. Previously to the year 

 1827, it was the custom to make a settlement with 

 the Pykars for each bund, respectively, but not 

 until all the cocoons of the bund had been wound 

 into silk, when the Resident proposed such price 

 as he judged reasonable, and after the approval of 

 the Board of Trade, the account was arranged, 

 without reference to the prices paid at the other 

 factories for silk of the same bund. In 1827 the 

 Board divided the silk districts into circles, and 

 resolved that one rate of price only should be 

 allowed at all the factories in each circle ; but in 

 1831, with the view of more effectually checking 

 the great advance in the price of silk, it was deter- 

 mined that in each year, before the commence- 

 ment of the investment season, it should be an- 

 nounced to the Pykars and others concerned in the 

 provision of cocoons or silk, that no more than 

 certain specified prices would be paid for the pro- 

 duce of the several bunds of the year. The rates 

 fixed by the Board on this occasion are stated in 

 the Appendix I. ; in which will also be found an 

 account of the cost of the silk per bale from 1817, 

 when the price began to rise, until 1835, in which 



and 



