Acoustic emission that occurred during the tensile straining of handsheets made from softwood or hardwood kraft pulp beaten to various degrees was measured and analysed to investigate the effect of notch application and notch geometry on micro failures occurred during the tensile deforming and fracturing. Notch application causes a higher proportion of failure of fairly strong fiber bonds and fiber failure throughout almost all of the tensile straining period irrespective of notch geometry. Furthermore, an increase in beating degree causes a higher proportion of failure of fairly strong fiber bonds and fiber failure for both specimen with and without notch. Notch geometry little affects on the micro failure occurrence mentioned above, while maximum tensile load per width and the period required for sheet breaking after maximum load are affected by notch geometry.