9 
Veuve E. Baktens & Co., Lez Anvers, writes:— We give you 
below as requested a few explanations regarding the wants and 
quotations for the European market. 
Green Aloe (Mauritius Hemp). — -As it must be known to you 
this fibre has a large consumption and the value subject to the 
quotations of a very uncertain market, as we have seen the prices 
during the last ten years fluctuate between 19 and 37 shillings per 
cwt. for prime quality, C. F. Antwerp. 
Murva (Konji Hemp) and Pineapple. — 'These products are 
shipped not in large quantities however from the Dutch posses- 
sions, Java, etc., to Rotterdam, and as you say under th 3 name 
of Ananas-fibre. Their price at present is from 24 to 30 shillings 
a cwt. according to the length of fibre. 
Aloe fibre . — (This appears to -be Mauritius hemp, Fourcroya , 
roughly beaten out by natives.— Ed.) is shipped to Antwerp in 
thousands of bales from Bombay Their present prices are:— No. 
1, 11 to 12 shillings; No. 2, 10 shillings; No. 3, pi shillings per cwt. 
Ramie . — We have personally the conviction that this fibre will 
eventually occupy the position in the textile world as cot on and 
flax. The quantities offered are insignificant and cannot be sup- 
plied regularly. According to the method of decortication the 
price fluctuates from 8 to 150 shillings per cwt., but we think that 
Ramie will get the easiest, largest and most suitable opening in 
the flax spinning works, when prepared in such a way as to replace 
in quality and price the Russian flax, this latter being about 28 
shillings a cwt. (medium value market). 
C. J. Schirmer Esq, 
Singapore. 
• 
Dear. SIR, — I duly received your letters of 8th and 10th October 
and in answer I b$g to inform yon that in the meantime* I have 
given on your samples several reports and informations to Mr. 
Arnhold Otto Meyer which I hope his Singapore firm, Beelv 
Meyer & Co., has transmitted you, but as you wish to have *my 
reports and informations also directly I hereby enclose copy of 
them. 
Sanseveria Fibre , — If this. fibre is strong, white in colour and well 
cleaned, prices of £28/32 as offered by Messrs. L. AttKERSMlTH & 
Co. for account of their San Francisco constituents are not at all 
out of question more* if this fibre is 80 Ctm. (31") and above in 
length'and in every respect without faults you can make easy £35 
and more. It is as you will understand quite impossible to give a 
valuation from here on completely unknown qualities, colours and 
lengths of Sanseveria grown and made in the Straits. Nobody will 
make contract “tel quel ” even if you give the guarantee to deliver 
not under 2.5 Ctm. (10") as it may be that everything is of twenty- 
five Ctm. and perhaps only a little over 25 Ctm in length. 
