Imports of Goat-hair.—Our imports of goats' hair, without reference to the description, in 1879, were as follows :—From Turkey, 5,987,276 lb., value 541,8121. ; British Africa, 2,102,019 lb., 138,1781.; France, 1,070,451 lb., 24,0481. ; China, 343,062 lb., 20,564/. ; other countries, 569,892 lb., 19,0131.; total, 10,072,700 lb., 743,6151.
Horse.—Though horse-hair is produced to some extent in almost every part of the world, com mercial supplies are obtained chiefly from Russia, Germany, Belgium, several of the S. American States, and Australia. The small quantity obtained from English stables—the combings of manes and tails—is superior to any that is imported. The next in quality comes from Australia and S. America, generally yielded by healthy, vigorous animals. The worst, especially in point of dirtiness, and the presence of contagion-, is procured from Russia, and in great part from Siberia. Foreign hairs reach this market packed in bales of strong cloth. The S. American bales are very large, sometimes weighing half a ton, and are bound with hoop iron, after having been subjected to hydraulic pressure. In all but the Russian bales, the mane hair and tail hair is packed in the same bale. The Russian bales are only about one-qnatter the size of the S. American, and, being packed by hand, are relatively much lighter ; they have also an external covering of the matting which is made in such large quantities by the Russian peasantry, from the baat of the linden tree. The Russian hair is gathered from all availahle sources by the peasants, who sell it in small parcels at the fairs to dealers, by whom it is made up into larger parcels for sale to the resident merchants. Thus, the " raw " hair which reaches the merchant is the mixed produce of innumerable places. At St. Petersburg, this raw hair is assorted, the long hair being made into dollies " or bundles, more or less sophisticated with bunches of short hair, to make weight.
Our imports of horse-hair in 1879 were as follows :—From Germany, 6268 cwt., value 42,571/, ; Argentine Republic, 4839 cwt., 23,1651.; Uruguay, 3110 cwt., 18,9671.; Belgium, 2869 cwt., 13,3411. ; Russia, 888 cwt., 89011. ; other countries, 1608 cwt., 80191. ; total, 19,582 cwt., 114,9641. In 1875, the quantities were :—Germany, 7299 ewt. ; Uruguay, 4935 ; Argentine Republic, 3069 ; Belgium, 1556; Brazil, 996; Australia, 906; Russia, 708; other countries, 762. The exports from Poti in 1877-8 were 12 papas (of 36 lb.). From Riga, in 1878, were shipped 37,675 poods (including cow-hair). The shipments from Revel to Great Britain were 3435 poods in 1878, and 240 pools in 1879, principally tails. Tangier, in 1878, exported 238 cwt., value 4281., to France (including goat
hair) ; iu 1879, the figures were 98 cwt. to Great Britain, and 154 cwt. to France. The average annual shipments from Rio Janeiro are about 10,000 cwt., and from the Argentine Republic, 9000 cwt., much of which goes to the United States. Shanghae, in 1878, exported 292 piculs (of 134 lb.). The market values are approximately as follows :—S. American, 44.-1s. a lb.; ditto, good to fine, 1.?.-2s. 6d. ; Russian, 8d.-2s. ; white tail, 11d.-4s. ; black tail, 10d.-3s.; mixed, 9-14d. ; short, 4-8d. The long hair is employed chiefly in making hair cloth, for covering purposes; also in other textiles, as stiff petticoats, and straining-bags and cloths ; and for stockings, gloves, plumes, wigs, fishing-lines, and ropes. The short hair is curled for stuffing seats, mattresses, &c. ; while medium coarse hair is sometimes used in brushes.
tresses have of late years been important articles of merchandise. any but "combings" is produced in this country, and supplies come chiefly from Continental Europe, India, and China, while even Iceland is not left unvisited by the itinerant hair-merchant. In S. France, the peasant-girls cultivate their hair with a commercial object. The light-coloured hair comes principally from Germany, Austria, and Scandinavia ; the dark, from S. France and Italy. Indian and Chinese tresses are very coarse ; yet the shipments of the latter, mostly to France, have risen from 286 pieuls (of 134 lb.) ia 1871, to 11,254 piculs iu 1875. The value varies according to length and colour. A. length of 8 in. commands about Is. an oz., while 36-in. hair may bring 30s. ; and above 36 in. the prices are fanciful. The standard is 18 in., but 5-6 ft. is occa sionally met with. Auburn, grey, light, and pale, are considered extra colours, and fetch much higher prices than the ordinary hues. The best hair is obtained from the living subject; dead hair is very inferior. The weight of a French head of hair (female's back-hair) is about 5 oz.; Italian, 6 oz. ; German, 10 oz. The last are seldom marketed in their natural state, hnt are mixed to hide inferiorities. The tresses from Italy and Brittany require much cleansing. The chief use of human hair is for the manufacture of wigs and false tresses. The latter are the more important, and the fashion which governs them rules the market values. The United States ladies are pro bably the largest customers for the article. The Chinese hair is in demand among Americaus of mixed African descent.