<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><mads xmlns="http://www.loc.gov/mads/" xmlns:mods="http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.loc.gov/mads/
mads.xsd"><authority><topic authority="http://AATesaurus.cultura.gencat.cat/aat/getty_en">byssus</topic></authority><related type="broader"><topic>textile materials by composition or origin</topic></related><variant type="other"><topic>bissus</topic></variant> <note xml:lang="en"><![CDATA[ Term used in ancient times for a fiber (and by extension, fabric) highly prized for its fineness, which was once the basis of a small textile manufacturing industry centered around the Italian Mediterranean. 'Byssus' was used to describe a variety of substances, leading to confusion and controversy over its proper denotation. Some scholars view byssus as simply a generic term covering a host of fiber proteins and products manufactured from them; others insist that the term specifically describes shellfish derived 'sea-silk'. Usage extends to both. ]]></note></mads>