Volume Seven - The People - Dock Family Trees - A Section of Maritime Trades and Tradesmen . . .

The sail-cloth may be either heavy or light, according to the sail for which it is intended, and the rolls or bolts are numbered from one to six or higher, and the qualities vary. The lower numbers are the heavy cloths and are used for storm and other sails, the other numbers for lighter sails. A large quantity of the sail-cloth used in Cardiff is obtained from Scotland and the West of England.

The trade is carried on here on lines similar to those observed elsewhere; the master sail-maker, or foreman, does the cutting, and the making and fixing of the sails is generally divided between the hands. When the different parts, each of which is numbered, has been joined together, the sail has to be fitted with the necessary ropes. These may be of hemp, manilla, or flexible steel as required.

The tools and appliances of the sail-maker are not very numerous or expensive. These consist of a bench about seven feet long and 15 inches high, upon which he sits to perform the greater part of his work; palms, for seaming and roping, to fit the hands, made of hide; there is a properly tempered steel plate fixed in the palm, having chambers to catch the head of the needle, thus acting as a thimble in forcing it through the several parts of the canvas in seaming, and between the strands and through the sail-cloth in roping; needles of various sizes are used, those for seaming being the smallest, and fids for splicing, seizing, &c, sail hook, bobbin for twine, and other articles.