The width of the sheets varies with some of the different manufacturers; the usual width up to within the last few years has been with most of them 7 ft., the length being 33 ft. Many houses now make their sheets 7 ft. 6 in. in width, and even 8 ft., and at St. Helens sheets are milled even up to 9 ft.

To face p. 12.

PLATE IV.

The production of lead in the United Kingdom for the five years including 1885 to 1889 averaged about 37,000 tons - the returns for the year 1890 are not yet published. It is impossible to estimate the consumption of lead in the United Kingdom, but according to the imports and exports it appears to be something like 140,000 tons per annum.

One firm manufactured at its various works as follows, viz., for 1890: -

Pig lead was imported for the year 1890 to the extent of 158,649 tons, exported to 55,536 tons. It is imported from Australia, Germany, Greece, Mexico, and Spain.