Page 177 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

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RESIDENCY AND MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1900-1901. 25
iMule hire.—Transport charge, which 13 an important item in the inland
trade opened with a quotation of krans 105 por 100 maunds of 775 lb. to Shiraz.
It remained at this figure till tho grazing season commenced, when it fell to
krans 90 and eventually to krans 80. In the beginning of April the rate stood
at krans GO, but towards tho end of tho month rose to krans 85, and continued
t this figure till it fell to krans 47 in July. From July to the end of the year
tho average rate for 775 lb. was krans 80. It touched its highest point in
January at krans 105, and its lowest in July at krans 47.
Freight.—Freight ruled at 22*. Gd. per ton to London in the beginning of
when it advanced to 27s. 6d. in February and 30s. in March, and
remained stationary at that figure till July, when it fell to 27s. 6<L In October
it again advanced to 30s., and continued at that figure till December, when it fell
to 23$. and remained at this figure till tho end of the year.
Shipping.—The shipping returns shew that 193 steam vessels with a tonnage
of 223,564 entered tho ports of Bushire and Lingah and 157 with a tonnage of
177,911 cleared from them. They show an advance of 8 vessels of 10,648
tons and 32 vessels of 33,458 tons, respectively, as having entered and cleared
from the two ports over the figures of the previous year. Taken separately, the
total number of steam vessels entering Bushire during the year under report
was 113 with a tonnage of 135,561, an increase of 7 vessels and 9,548 tons as
compared with 1899. The total number which cleared was 118 vessels of
135,041 tons burden—an increase of 26 vessels and 26,S53 tons. The figures
of Lingah as regards entrance shew a slight increase of 1 vessel of 1,100 tons
burden, and under the return of clearance there is an increase of 6 vessels of
6,600 tons. Out of the 193 steam vessels which entered the ports of Bushire
and Lingah, 189 carried tM British flag, 3 the Turkish flag, and the remaining
1 was an Austrian boat. Similarly, out of the 157 steam vessels which
cleared from these two ports, 152 were under British, 2 under Austrian and
3 under Turkish colours.
Customs.—It is satisfactory to note that the establishment of the present
Customs Administration since March last under European control has put
a stop to the discreditable state of affairs mentioned in the trade report of 1898,
when the goods landed at the Customs House in Bushire used to he at the
mercy of unscrupulous native Customs officials, who helped themselves to other
people’s goods, in the majority of cases with impunity. Claims for compensa­
tion on account of goods missing from the Customs belonging to British sub­
jects have not yet all been settled, but the Persian Government are being urged
to effect a settlement.
Confidence has now been restored amongst the mercantile community in
respect of the custody of their merchandise under the present Customs Admin­
istration, which has promptly paid claims on account of any shortage proved to
have occurred whilst goods were lying at the Customs House. But there are
persons in Bushire who do not view the present Customs Administration with
favour and who are sighing for the old regime. The reason of this is not far to
6eek. Under the old administration, when the Customs used to be farmed by
the Governor of the day, some of tho principal merchants were in the habit of
making private arrangements with the Governor, whereby they obtained con­
siderable reductions in the assessment of the Customs duty. But all that has
now been changed, and the full 5 per cent, ad valorem duty is charged by the
present administration. It will therefore take some time before the people
realize the benefits of a properly organized administration of Customs. If the
present administration be allowed a sufficiently long lease of tenure under its
able and energetic Director-General, M. Simais, many urgent improvements in
the harbour of Bushire for facilitating the landing and shipping of goods may
&oon be expected to be introduced. Hitherto, the supply of boats for landing and
^hipping cargo has been very inadequate, and when several steamers happen to
t>o m the harbour at the 6ame time, groat inconvenience and confusion arise,
resulting very often in serious detention to steamers. Apart from this, the crew
!>y which the boats are manned are rarely trustworthy, and the result is abduotion
oi, and tampering with, the goods entrusted to them for coovevance. To nut
* atop to this unsatisfactory state of affairs, M. Simais is said" to be making
rrengements to engage some steam barges for landing and shipping cargo in
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