1G0
the English (17). On the other hand, up to 1879 the system ofweight duties was applicable in Germany , according to which aduty of 12 marks per 100 kilos, yam was levied, without takinginto consideration the fineness of the yarn. From 1879 a systemof degree duties came into force, which although far lower thanthe protective duties of the highly protectionist States of France ,America, and Russia , still considerably raised the duties on thefiner and finest cotton jams. By the new tariff in 1885 thecotton spinners succeeded in getting further additions to theseduties. In spite of these facts, Lotz must he said to be correctwhen he says that the experiment of Germany to spin its own fineyarns has to be viewed as a failure (18). In spite of the altera-tion in the German duties of 1879, the average of the counts spunin Germany has been lowered, as shown by the increased require-ments per 3pindle already touched upon. From the Chamber ofCommerce district of Plauen , -which, in consequence of hand andpower knitting, is chiefly dependent upon the use of fine yarns indoubled form, the following, in this respect, has been communi-cated to me. According to these particulars the most importantdoubling mills in the district used, in 1891, in cotton yarns over60’s counts:—•
17 per cent, of German spinnings.
7-5 ,, Swiss ,,
In addition, it is declared that, for special reasons, comparativelymore German -spun yarn has been used than in other doublingmills.
The reasons for the superiority of England in this branch aretwo. One is to be found in that tenet of Tucker, that the countrymost economically developed, where the weekly earnings of theoperatives are higher, produces just those articles in the productionof which more labour and capital than raw materials come intoaccount. -This shows itself, for instance, also' in a totally differentproduction, but which, similarly to fine yarns, embodies very muchlabour and capital. As in the spinning of fine yams, so is Englandsuperior to the Continent in shipbuilding. But with fine yarns a
17. 11 Stat. Erm.,” I., p. 5. But the English were driven out of SouthGermany in up to 40’s counts and higher ; out of North Germany in up to30’s. Ij the 20 years from 1858 to 1877 the percentage of yarns usedwhich were imported had fallen from 47'7 to 17-3 per cent.
18. Compare Lotz: “Ideender deutschen Handelspolitik,” Leipzig, 1892,p. 175