Book excerpt: The continuous improvement and effective dissemination of the technology for silk reeling and testing are vital in meeting the ever increasing demand for quality raw silk throughout the world. This bulletin covers a wide range of techniques in the silk reeling industry. Details are given in each chapter on the handling of fresh cocoons, drying and storage of cocoons, cocoon boiling and reeling, raw silk-reeling and finishing, water quantity and quality, utilization of by-products and maintenance of the machinery used. An appendix illustrates the silkworm processes from larva to final production of silk.