The Jute Industry: from Seed to Finished Cloth | Page 7

or in the river from barges into large steamers, many of which carry from 30,000 to 46,000 bales in one cargo to the European ports. One vessel brought 70,000 bales.
As already mentioned, jute is sold under guarantees as to quality, and all disputes must be settled by arbitration. Although this is the usual method of sale, it is not uncommon for quantities of jute to be shipped unsold, and such quantities may be disposed of on the "Spot." It is a common practice to sell a number of bales to sample, such number depending generally upon the extent of the quantity, or "parcel," as it is often called. The contract forms are very complete, and enable the business to be conducted to the satisfaction of all concerned in the trade.
[ILLUSTRATION: FIG. 5 NATIVES BAILING JUTE FIBRE IN A WATSON-FAWCETT CYCLONE PRESS]
It will be understood that, in the yearly production of such a large quantity of jute fibre from various districts, and obtained from plants which have been grown under variable climatic and agricultural conditions, in some cases the fibre will be of the finest type procurable, while in other cases it will be of a very indifferent type and unsuitable for use in the production of the ordinary classes of yarns and fabrics. On the other hand, it should be stated that there is such a wide range of goods manufactured, and additional varieties occasionally introduced, that it appears possible to utilize all the kinds of fibre in any year; indeed, it seems as if the available types of fibre each season create demands for a corresponding type of manufactured product.
The crops produced will, obviously, vary in amount and value annually, but a few figures will help the reader to estimate in some degree the extent of the industry and its development in various parts of the world.
EXPORTS OF JUTE FROM INDIA
Year. Tons. Bales.
1828 18 300 lbs/bale 1832 182 300 lbs/bale 1833 300 300 lbs/bale 1834 828 300 lbs/bale 1835 1,222 300 lbs/bale 1836 16 300 lbs/bale 1837 171 300 lbs/bale
[Illustration: FIG. 6 VESSEL LADEN WITH JUTE AT QUAY-SIDE ADJOINING JUTE SHEDS IN DUNDEE HARBOUR]
JUTE PRODUCTION IN INDIA
Season. Tons. Bales (400 lbs.).
1850-51. 28,247 158,183 1860-61. 46,182 258,619 1862-63. 108,776 609,146 1863-64. 125,903 707,056 1872-73. 406,335 2,275,476 1880-81. 343,596 1,924,137 1886-87. 413,664 2,316,518 1892-93. 586,258 3,083,023 1896-97. 588,141 3,293,591 1902-03. 580,967 3,253,414 1906-07. 829,273 4,643,929 1907-08. 1,761,982 9,867,100 1908-09. 1,135,856 6,360,800 1909-10. 1,302,782 7,295,580 1910-11 1,434,286 8,032,000 1911-12. 1,488,339 8,334,700 1912-13. 1,718,180 9,621,829 1913-14. 1,580,674 8,851,775 1914-15. 1,898,483 10,631,505 1915-16. 1,344,417 7,528,733 1916-17. 1,493,976 8,366,266 1917-18. 1,607,922 9,004,364 1918-19. 1,278,425 7,159,180 1919-20. 1,542,178 8,636,200
A large vessel containing bales of jute is berthed on the quay-side adjoining the jute sheds in Fig. 6. The bales are raised quickly from the hold by means of a hydraulic-engine, scarcely visible in Fig. 6 since it is at the far end of the vessel, but seen clearly in Fig. 7. When the bales are raised sufficiently high, they are guided to the comparatively steep part of a chute from which they descend to the more horizontal part as exemplified in Fig. 7. They are then removed by means of hand-carts as shown, taken into the shed, and piled or stored in some suitable arrangement with or without the aid of a crane. Motor and other lorries are then used to convey the bales to the various mills where the first actual process in what is termed spinning takes place. It will be understood that the bales are stored in the spinner's own stores after having been delivered as stated.
[Illustration: FIG. 7. HARBOUR PORTERS REMOVING BALES OF JUTE FROM THE VESSEL SHOWN IN FIG. 6]
CHAPTER V.
MILL OPERATIONS
Bale Opening. Each spinner, as already indicated, stores his bales of jute of various "marks," i.e. qualities, in a convenient manner, and in a store or warehouse from which any required number of bales of each mark can be quickly removed to the preparing department of the mill.
In the woollen industry, the term "blending" is used to indicate the mixing of different varieties of material (as well as different kinds of fibres) for the purpose of obtaining a mixture suitable for the preparing and spinning of a definite quality and colour of material. In much the same way, the term "batching" is used in the jute industry, although it will be seen shortly that a more extensive use is made of the word. A "batch," in its simplest definition, therefore indicates a number of bales which is suitable for subsequent handling in the Batching Department. This number may include 5, 6, 7 or more bales of jute according to the amount of accommodation in the preparing department.
All the above bales of a batch may be composed of the same standard quality of jute, although the marks may be different. It