Manila rope is a type of rope made from manila hemp. The port is important for palm oil, tobacco, cocoa, coffee, manila hemp and sago exports. Lift and operating lines were commonly made of manila hemp. The hatmaking straw made from Manila hemp is called "tagal" or "tagal straw". Each sheet of pure Manila hemp paper was watermarked "J C Gayetty N Y". Manila hemp was now competing against the newly invented Nylon. Manila hemp fiber has been used as a substitute for hair. True Manila hemp folders would have been much tougher and longer lasting than modern folders. James Combe experimented first with circular ropes laid from leather strips, then from manila hemp.