Page 404 - PERSIAN GULF ADMINISTRATION REPORTS V1

3G ADMINISTRATION REPORT OF THE PERSIAN GULP
POLITICAL RESIDENCY
1 (
It has been confidently asserted that some 20 years ago the banks
were more pregnant, lmt that compensation is now afforded in the higher
price paid for pearls.* °
Twenty years ago the market price is stated to have been about
12 krans (or about Rupees 5) a
(<i) Tlic weight u.«cd, the "clmo,” Is s.iid
to have vnried during the jm^t 20 years “ cliao,” whilst it stands now at 35
relatively to that of Bombay. That is krans.’f We must however not lose
toMjr.llicUulf »iWU now heavier s;,r|lt 0f t|le fact that tj k h
than in former tunes. . ° * . i , ,
been debased.(a)
As to this asserted diminution of the yield becoming more marked
I should be very sceptical.
There would be nothing to account for anything of the sort (other
than a natural temporary deficit) iu the manner that the fisheries have
been carried on of late years.
I have failed to obtain mention or even tradition of any failure
in this marine harvest, aud indeed the fish has here everything in its
favour.
In the first place, there is the climate, the usually quiet weather,
and sea, the hundreds of miles of shoal water, warmed through and
through by that dead heat, which, ns the Arabs themselves say, makes
the fish jump out of “ the water to get cool.” Then the cooler deeps
as a perpetual preserve; for the boldest “Scdcc” diver will not fish J as
a rule beyond twelve fathom, and there is not one man in tweuty who
can go down sixteen, aud lastly the temper, or continence, of the divers
themselves. They are too wise to kill the goose with golden eggs, and
say “ that will do for another year” when they come upon a small lot of
shells.
This presents a rather remarkable
Mr. Markhnm's report, published in
Madras on Tiuiievelly IVarl Fishery. contrast to the manner iu which the
Cumiuumcited to ijfmrd of Revenue, Tiiuievelly fisheries are reported to have
Bombay Government, lSGo. been “ worked.”
On the whole, perhaps, the idea of any important diminution in the
supply may be dismissed.
31. With regard to the greater or less fertility of banks, this is
supposed to depend on the depth of the water, but the Arabs do not seem
to attach much more importance to one locality than to another.
They 6ay that they find considerably more shells in shallow than
in deep water, though these are generally smaller, also that the oysters
arc not os a rule larger on new banks than on the old ones. ]}

• lately the ralue of pearl* bos fallen in tbe Indian market- The fall baa been goiag
on for three years, aud it is actually cheaper to buy in India than at Bahrein. The trad*
however it in fact n monopoly which may account for this. 1 hare failed to understand
the reason thoroughly.
t In 1824 the 4| brans were equal to one dollar. The dollar is now worth 5| krto*
X Tha usual depth Is »U to eight or Wn English fathom.