Baling
Picul Bale
The raw silk, having been reeled and twisted into skeins, is next marked and tied together in bundles of skeins known as “books” each bearing the mark or “chop” of its grade. These are packed in bales for shipment, the weight of the bales varying in different countries. In Japan and China they are called picul bales and weigh 133⅓ pounds. Italian silks, on the other hand, are packed in shipping bales of about 200 pounds.
4. Sources of Raw Silk
Of the countries producing raw silk, Japan and China occupy the leading positions by a large margin, the former contributing roughly one half of the world’s supply, and the latter about one third. Italy ranks a poor third with about one tenth, and France, the Near East, India, Spain and the Balkans contribute the balance.
Japan
Although the greater part of the raw silk produced in the various countries is exported for manufacture abroad, a certain percentage is retained for home spinning and weaving. It is estimated that about 65 per cent of the Japanese output is exported, approximately 90 per cent. of which goes to the United States.
China
In China over one half of the output is held for domestic consumption, the remainder being divided about equally between Europe and America.
Italy