Page 91 - Records of Bahrain (3) (ii)_Neat

The pre-war economy: pearl fishing, 1899-1915 507

2244.

Suit an should accordingly have amouu ted to about Rtf. 30,000; but it is
believed that, in consequence of mortgages, etc., lie was obliged to content
himself with §12,000. This case, having been in effect compromised,
will not afford a very useful precedent for the future.

International political questions on the Arabian side, 1857-1907.

Disputes between local authorities are, however, of slight importance
in comparison with the difficulties which might arise were the local
divers on the Arabian banks to be' subjected to the competition of
Europeans furnished with scientific appliances, more especially if, as
some authorities believe, the effect of deep-sea dredging would be to
destroy the colonies from which the oysters upon the shallow beds accessible
to native divers are recruited. The representatives of the British Gov-
ernment, by whom the question has at different times been considered, have
never doubted that, whether real damage were done to the native fisheries
or not, the appearance of European rivals would arouse great animosity
on the part of the Arabs, who regard the fisheries as their common but
exclusive inheritance j and, in view of this fact, as well as of the possibi­
lity that an industry, on which many thousands of persons depend for
their subsistence might actually be destroyed, the British Government
have never ceased to oppose, by such means as have presented themselves,
the intrusion of foreigners—including European British subjects—into
the fishery.
'cssrs. Wat- The question of European participation appears to have arisen
ns project, for.the first time in 1857, when Messrs. J. and W. Watson of Bombay
?57. were anxious to engage in the pearl fishery. Captain Felix Jones, I.N.,
however, the British Political Resident, on the matter being referred to
him, reported that plunder, if not bloodshed, would certainly be provoked;
and Her Majesty's G overnment, in consequence apparently of this opinion,
refused to countenance operations by the firm.
)inbay In the season of 1S62 the steamer Johnstone Castle, chartered
ndiente, by a Bombay syndicate, proceeded without official sanction to the
152.
Bahrain pearl banks and stationed there three Europeans and some
native employes, with patent diving machines, to carry on operations
in a Baghlah; the steamer then crossed to Bushehr, where she
arrived at the beginning of July, and Mr. Plunkett, one of the charterers,
had an interview there with Captain Disbrowc, the Acting Political
Resident. The Acting Political Resident evidently regarded the situation
as dangerous, for he immediately despatched a Government vessel to tho
banks with; instructions to remove the Baghlah from the banks and
bring it to Bushehr. On its arrival at Bushehr, on the 10th of July,
the .boat was found to bo of Turkish nationality,—a circumstance which
might have occasioned complications, but did hot. The secrecy with
which the enterprise had been managed was attributed by those concerned
in it to the necessity of concealing t heir operations from a rival company,
and it appeared that their action had been takcu in good faith, on the
strength of a statement contained in an official publication that the banks