code: private int howManyGreaterThans(final String aLine) {
  		if (aLine == null) {
  			return -1;
  		}
  		int i = 0;
  		final int len = aLine.length();
  		while (i < len) {
  			if (aLine.charAt(i) == '>') {
  				i++;
  			} else {
  				break;
  			}
  		}
  		return i;
  	}
docs: How many greater thans.
  
  @param aLine the a line
  @return the int