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cnaracteristic of Hard Fine Para. The curing seems thorough and 
satisfactory in most respects, but the rubber is somewhat soft in 
character and not as strong as would be expected. Value about that 
of F. A. Q. Smoked Sheet, viz. 5/8. per lb. 
Sample Described by you as Biscuits, Light Smoked and Second 
Quality. The former are amber coloured small sheet and biscuits, very 
similar to a previous consignment received from you. Although the 
1 ubber has been carefully prepared, is in excellent condition and of 
good strength, the smoking is rather too slight for the market. Very 
thorough smoking is at present looked for and most appreciated, 
The smoke smell on many of the above samples has almost dis- 
appeared at the time of writing. Value Id.- to 2d. per lb. below 
F. A. Q. Smoked Sheet. The second quality is rough rejected sheets, 
partly cured, part mouldy and in unsatisfactory condition. 
Samples Referred to in your Letter of 17th November just to hand, 
viz,, about 67 lbs.— The landing weight of this parcel is about 60 
lbs., showing apparently about 7 lbs. Joss in transit owing to moisture. 
Case No. 2. Light yellowish roll, consisting of sheet tightly 
wound up. On being unwound the rubber is very wet and of a very 
light grey colour. It has a nice smell of smoking, but this is hardly 
pronounced enough. The rubber seems to be very strong, but the 
winding appears to have had a stretching effect on the sheet, and it 
somewhat resembles thin Balata sheet in appearance and character. 
This stretching seems to have an effect on the physical properties of 
the rubber, and it lacks some of the nervousness and resilience found 
in ordinary sheet, the effect of the winding would appear to be differ- 
ent from that obtained in the Hard Fine Para method, this may be 
due to temperature. 
Case No. 2. This is narrower sheet than the above, the outsides 
of the roll darker in colour, otherwise very similar in appearance, 
there being hardly any difference between the colours of the surfaces 
of the sheets when unwound The rubber in this roll, however, does 
seem a little drier, and the sheet is more even in texture and thinner. 
Both this roll and the above are very hard. The strength of the 
rubber in this case also is excellent and seems to compare with that 
of Hard Fine Para; on the whole we are inclined to give this the 
preference as the curing seems more thorough, in the first case we 
would describe the rubber as distinctly under-cured. Value about 
that of Soft Fine Para, viz., 4/6. 
Sample Referred to in your Letter of 17th November described 
as about 3 lbs. sent by mail via Brindisi. Wound sheet,— this is 
somewhat similar to the above, rather rougher and not so carefully 
rolled out or so attractive in appearance. There seems to be more 
interstitial moisture; the rubber also has free water on the surfaces 
when the sheet is unwound. Smoking does not seem to be nearly 
thorough enough. Value about Id. to 2d. per lb. less than the above. 
