3. Grading and Quotations
Classification
Difficulties in Grading
The question of classification of raw silk for market and the various terms used for its purchase and sale is a complicated one. Standardization has been sought after for a good many years and committees both here and abroad have studied the problem on various occasions—but without entirely satisfactory results. The chief source of trouble appears to lie the many types of variation that may occur, not only on account of the great number of qualities required in the product, but also due to the varying conditions under which the silk is produced. In the early days of the industry, when farm production was the chief source of supply, particularly in Japan and China, satisfactory grading was almost an impossibility. However, now that sericulture and reeling has come more and more into the hands of the large companies and filatures, a greater degree of standardization can be reached.
Quotations
The following is an actual example of a recent quotation list in the New York market as it appeared in a commercial paper:—
JAPAN
(Ninety Days’ Basis, 13-15 Denies)
| Kansai | Double Extra Cracks | $6.15 @ | $6.20 |
| Kansai | Double Extra “A” | 6.05 @ | 6.10 |
| Kansai | Double Extra “B” | 6.00 @ | 6.07 |
| Kansai | Best Extra | 5.95 @ | 6.02 |
| Kansai | Extra | 5.90 @ | 5.97 |
| Kansai | Best No. 1 to Extra | 5.87 @ | 5.95 |
| Kansai | Best No. 1 | 5.85 @ | 5.92 |
| Kansai | No. 1 | 5.82 @ | 5.90 |
| Sinshiu | No. 1 | 5.77 @ | 5.85 |
CANTON