282

EFFECT OF TAXES

“ The brown nets which are sold in the Notting-“ ham market, are in part disposed of by the agents“ of twelve or fifteen of the larger makers, i. e. to the“ amount of about 250,000/. a year. The principal“ part of the remainder, i. e. about 1,050,000/. a“ year, is sold by about two hundred agents, who“ take the goods from one warehouse to another for“ sale.

“ Of this production, about half is exported in“ the unembroidered state, and in the white princi-“ pally ; yet a large quantity is sent in the unbleached“ state, and is embroidered abroad, and much is“ figured in the white on the continent. So that“ it is probable that as much is figured abroad as at“ home ; and this principally on account of wages“ being lower there than here, notwithstanding the“ low rate of embroiderers’ earnings in this country.“ This foreign embroidery is chiefly done in Belgium ,“ Saxony, and until recently, Poland . The exports“ of bobbin-net are in great part to Hamburgh, for“ sale at home and at Leipzic and Frankfort fairs,“ Antwerp, and the rest of Belgium ; to France ,“by contraband; to Italy , and North and South“ America . Though a very suitable article, yet the“ quantity sent eastward of the Cape of Good Hope ,“ has hitherto been too trifling for notice. Three-“ eighths of the whole production are sold unem-“ broidered at home. The remaining one-eighth is“ embroidered in this country, and increases the“ ultimate value as under, viz.