Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 1.djvu/268

 with a view to his transportation to Virginia, and in further return for so large a sum, the master bound himself to instruct other apprentices in the art of silk culture in order that the Company might in the future have the benefit of their knowledge. In the following year provision was made for obtaining a large supply of silk-worm seed from St. Valencia, which enjoyed the reputation of producing worms that prospered in other climates besides their own. Raw silk previous to this time had sold in England for thirteen shillings and four pence a pound, and silk cods for two shillings and six pence, but in this year raw silk advanced to twenty-eight shillings.

The massacre by the Indians had as disastrous an influence upon silk culture as it had upon the other industries of the Colony. So far as can be discovered, the actual production of this material previous to that event had amounted practically to very little, but this might well be due, as was claimed, to the fact that silk culture in Virginia had not yet passed the first stage of development. After the massacre, George Sandys, who as Treasurer was required to see to the enforcement of the Company&#8217;s instructions as to the staple commodities, earnestly strove to restore the culture of silk to the footing which it had occupied when it was so suddenly interrupted. He placed the silk-men at Elizabeth City, a place but little exposed, and compelled them to confine their attention to silk husbandry. A room for the worms was prepared at Lieutenant Pierce&#8217;s, which was considered to be the most