Page 264 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

112 ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON TIIE PERSIAN GULP POLITICAL

Part VII.—REPORT ON THE TRADE AND COMMERCE OP TEE
BAHREIN ISLANDS POR 1000.

G (moral No statistics of imports or exports aro kept by Hie Customs authorities.
Romarks.
The figures givou iu the tables have been compiled from the manifests of
steamers, courteously lent by tho Agents, records of native merchants, and
otjier sources ; they therefore are only approximate, but tkoy may bo taken to
fairly represent the trade of the islands for tho past year.
The volume of trade, according to tho returns, has declined nearly fifty-
four lakhs of rupees. The retrograde movement in the trade is mainly duo to
the fall in the importation of rice from India and tho export of pearls to the
same country.
The.prosperity of the Bahrein Islands primarily depends upon tho pearl
fishery, in which about one-half of tho male population is occupied. The
fishery in the year under report opened on tho 12th May under unfortunate
circumstances, and closed on the 17th September. One of the principal pearl
banks situated to the north of tho islands, where the oysters were found to be
diseased and producing no pearls, was abandoned in the early part of the season,
and this was tho chief cause in the falling off in the quantity of pearls
obtained.
Tho Indian pearl merchants in the season of 1899, anticipating that the
opening of the Paris Exhibition would create an abnormal demand, keenly
competed for these gems, and raised the price from 40 to 60 per cent. Their
expectations, however, were not fulfilled, and mauy of them sustained heavy
losses and some became bankrupt. Though it was generally known that the pro­
duction of the pearl hanks in the ensuing season would be short, the merchants
were at first less eager to buy and offered rates which ruled in ISOS. Later in
the season news was received regarding a demand for small pearls in Bombay;
they advanced the prices 20 per cent, to 40 per cent, above normal years, and
reports have been received to the effect that on that class of pearls good profits
were realized.
The improvement in the Bombay pearl market will enable Bahrein
merohants to realize some of their stocks, when a large amount of capital will
be released and be available for the purposes of trade, which will regain some
of its lost ground. In any case an increase on the year's figures for rice i»
expected.
A reference to trade statistics of. previous years will shew that there is a
growing demand in all descriptions of cotton piece-goods, and this fact ought
to be of interest to manufacturers and merchants in India as well as In the
United Kingdom, whose attention I would particularly draw to the study of
the requirements of this important market, which in time, it is expected, will
develop considerably. I have been informed by tho only native merchant
who imports direct from tho United Kingdom and does business in El Hassa
that he makes an average profit of about 35 per cent, on his transactions. It
has also been brought to my notice that some Manchester prints, bought in
the Basrah Bazar by an enterprising native, found a ready sale which has
encouraged him to repeat the transaction on a larger scale. These facts ought
to be an inducement to British firms already established in the Persian Gulf, if
not others, to solicit orders for home manufactures.
A study also of the quantity and weight of merchandise imported into and
exported from Bahrein, and the information given under tho head of freight,
will show that there is room for more British steamers to make Bahrein a port
of calL
A strict prohibition on the importation of intoxicating liquors for pur-
poses of trade was imposed in September lost, and ony liquor entering tne
country is liable to be seized and destroyed.
The imports into Bahrein 6how a fall of over twenty-eight and-a-half lakhs
.mports*
of rupees on the figures of 1899.