SPIDER WEBB ROPES.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11737, 20 September 1906, Page 4

SPIDER WEBB ROPES.

A spider web factory is said to be in successful operation in ChalaisMetldon, near Paris. The web is used for the purpose of giving an extremely light rope for balloons for the French aeronautic military operatjons. The spiders are arranged in groups of twelve each above the reel jpon which the threads are wound. They are expected to spin from thirty to forty yards of thread each before their task is completed. The web is washed, and the washed threads, taken eight together, are woven into strong yarn cords, which are said to be lighter and stronger than silk of tbe same thickness.