THE SHEEP'S JACKET.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3042, 14 January 1892, Page 2

THE SHEEP'S JACKET.

Thb London correspondent of the Manohester Guardian writes as follows :—" An interesting illustration of the course of Manchester trade came under my notice to day. I was speaking with a large New Zealand breeder of sheep and lambs for import iuto this country, and taking uu a piece of cotton cloth he said :—" This is the sheep's jacket: we (,et all the material from Manchester." The jacket is the cloth covering for the frozen carcases of the imported sheep and lambs, ani how important the industry is will be gathered from the fact that in 1881, when the trade was introduced, only 400 carcases were imported to London, whi'.-t laet year it had gr>wn to nparly 20,000,000 carcases, all ruquiryitiß the products of Lancashire looms fi.r'"' jhirta." In the eight months of the current year ending August almost a< much frozen mutton had been imported as during the twelve months ending December 1890. I did not ask how much was paid to Manchester for "shirts," but the amount is doubtless considerable. Commenting on the foregoing, the Textile Mercury (Manchester) says that " shroud " would be a fitter terra for the article, which is really a very light cotton fabric, entirely woven and turned out of the loom a completb and finished cotton bag. It is further observed that though the frozen meat has raised to enormous dimensions, "the demand for cotton shirts for sheep, even if it doubles itself, can easily be supplied by the siugle weaving shed in Islackturn thsit, so far a? we know, is the only one thnt manufactures them. The contribution to the cotton trade is therefore not a very large one, though it forms, no doubt, an item that the firm engaged in the manufacture would miss were it withdrawn.' 1