Page 563 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

1904-1905. 21
RESIDENCY and maskat political agfncy for the year

PART in.— BEPORT ON THE TRADE AND COMMERCE OF
BUSHIRB FOR THE YEAR 1904.
General remarks.—A comparison of the statements of the import and
export trade of Bushire for the years 1903 and 1904 compiled from Customs
House Tariff and returns demonstrates that the gross imports show an increase
of £19,022 and the exports of £88,315.
Imports.—The increase in imports is due to an increase of £67,895 over
1903 in gold, silver, and nickel monies which, if deducted, would cause the
import trade to show a decrease of £i8,S73. This would be consistent with
the general aspect of the trade of Bushire for the year under revision. The
decrease is mainly due to two causes, firstly, an epidemic of cholera which
practically brought trade to a stand-still for some three to four months of
the year, and, secondly, to the generally dull state of the markets in the
interior.
Tea.—The returns show a decrease in this article of some £3,000, but this
is mainly due, I am led to understand, to the high duty levied under the new
Customs Tariff on more expensive teas and, therefore, cheaper qualities are
imported. There is also good reason to believe that the high duty on this
article has been a great incentive to the smuggling of the commodity through
the numerous small ports along the neighbouring coast.
Exports.—Exports, excluding specie, show an increase of £74,801, the
amount being principally made up by the following:—Drugs and medicines,
almonds and pistachios, gum, opium, skins undressed and Taw cotton, which
were exported to India and Persian Gulf Ports, England, India and Germany ?
England and China, India and France, England, India and Russia, respectively’
Wheat.—Owing to the imposition of an embargo and a somewhat scanty
crop practically none of this was exported during the year.
Vegetable substances,—'The decrease in vegetable substances is mainly due
to the fact that rose-water was in 1903 calculated under the heading of
vegetable substances and in 1904 under that of drugs and medicine.
Exchange,—London exchange fluctuated from Kraus 56 to 62-} per
£ sterling, and Bombay exchange from Kran8 376} to 417} per Si CO. This
was due chiefly to the cessation of all export from the north of Persia to
Russia and the consequent difficulty of purchasing exchange as cover for sales.
Freights.—For the first nine months freights to the United Kingdom were
steady at shillings 27-6 and for the last three months at shillings 30 per ton.
Outward freights were about shillings 35 and those to and from India RIO.
Transport.—Normal transport rales averaged throughout the year from
Krans 85 to 90 per hundred maunds, but during the throe months of the cholera
epidemic transport at any price was unobtainable.
The Customs.—Although the Customs regulations in many details are quite
unsuited to the peGnliar local conditions holding in Bushire and other Gulf
ports, they are, as applied gradually, becoming better understood by the mer-
caatile community.
. . The fact remains, however, that the enforcement of the multitudinous pro­
visions of the Re element taken in conjunction with the working of the existing
landing and porterage system under which the Hamal Basbi or transport a<*eiit
though theoretically the servant of the consignees, is practically the nominee
anie?p 0y6 °- t5?e Customs House, continues and will continue to generate a
gMid deal of friction both between the steamship companies the
and between these two bodies and the Customs ™ *
Moreover, the expenses, liabilities and losses from damage, etc.
according to the statements of the mercantile communitr increased from 20 in
30 per cent since the introduction of the new Tariff and the
IJouanier, all of which causes tend to retard the progress cif the trade of the