effect its orientation and thereby increase its tensile strength in the stretching operation shown in fig1 a generally suitable for larger size sutures e g sizes 2 0 to 3 0 monofilament 16 is drawn through hot water draw bath 23 by means of second godet 24 which rotates at a higher speed than first godet 21 to provide the desired stretch ratio the temperature of hot water draw bath 23 is advantageously from about 60 u00b0 to about 98 u00b0 c and preferably is from about 80 u00b0 to about 95 u00b0 c in the alternative stretching operation shown in fig1 b generally preferred for smaller sutures sizes e g sizes 4 0 to 8 0 monofilament 16 is drawn by second godet 24 39 through hot air oven chamber 23 39 at a temperature of from about 100 u00b0 to about 185 u00b0 c and preferably from about 150 u00b0 to about 170 u00b0 c to provide the desired amount of stretch following the stretching operation shown in fig1 a or 1b monofilament 16 is subjected to an on line annealing relaxation operation as a result of which the monofilament shrinks in the processes of fig1 a and 1b annealing relaxation is accomplished by driving monofilament 16 by third godet 26 through second hot air oven chamber 25 at a temperature of from about 120 u00b0 to about 180 u00b0 c and preferably from about 140 u00b0 to about 160 u00b0 c at these temperatures monofilament 16 will generally recover to within about 85 to about 97 percent and preferably to within about 95 percent of.