Evidence of Mr. James Ellis,[321] 18 April, 1806.
Do you instruct this apprentice in the different branches of the trade?
As far as he has been capable I have done.
Will you enumerate the different branches of the trade which you yourself learnt, and in which you instruct your apprentice?
I learnt to be a spinner before I went apprentice; my apprentice was only eleven years old when I took him; when I went apprentice I was a strong boy, and I was put to weaving first; I never was employed in bobbin winding myself while I was apprentice; I had learned part of the business with my father-in-law before I went; I knew how to wind bobbins and to warp; after that I learned to weave; we had two apprentices, and after I had been there a little while we used to spin and weave our webs; while one was spinning the other was weaving.
Did you also learn to buy your own wool?
Yes; I had the prospect of being a master when I came out of my time, and therefore my master took care I should learn that.
Does that branch require great skill?
Yes, it does; I found myself very deficient when I was loose.
Different sorts of wool are applicable to different dyes and different manufactures?