Page 564 - PERSIAN 4 1899_1905

22 ADMINISTRATION REPORT ON THE PER8IAN GULP POLITICAL
south, a large portion of which (67 per cent.) comes from the United Kingdom
and India.
Small Traders.—It is found that the new Customs Tariff (with its numer­
ous rules) hns hit the small trader in miscellaneous articles much harder than
it has the bigger merchants. The many potty expenses, stamps, and feos which
when distributed over a big consignment add an infinitesimal amount to the
original cost, when incurred in regard to small consignments make a vory
appreciable difference.
To the above considerations wo have to add the fact that the rigorous and
inelastic principles on which steamship companies conduot their business G8om
to allow very little Bcope or discretion to their local agents for the extension
of that specially considerate treatment to the potty trader which is so essential
to his prosperity, and the result is that the present lot of this community, many
of whose members hail from British India, is by no moans a prosperous one.
There is even some reason to fear that they are being gradually driven out of
the place, owing to the increasingly poor prospects presented to them by exist­
ing conditions in Bushire.
Advice to shippers.—It is very necessary that all shippers should as far a a
possible do their beBt to comply with the Customs regulations before despatch­
ing their goods, and to this end it would be advisable for them to study the
Beglemcnt Douanier, The principal points to be borne in mind are as
follows
(1) Invoices must be carefully and correctly made out showing the
exact net and gross weight of article despatched, place of origin,
cost, and description.
(2) Such invoices should be despatched in time to reach their agent or
consignee before the arrival of the goods in Bushire so as to
enable the consignee to make out correctly the very precise
declaration form, etc., required from him by the Customs House.
The adoption of this procedure will save much extra time, trouble,
and expense.
Advice to Steampship Companies.—Steamship companies would also do
well to study the Rfcglement Douanier, and where possible endeavour to adapt
themselves a little more than they seem to do at present to the peculiarities of
the port, its harbour, Customs regulations and landing conveniences. It is
important too that they should show increased consideration for the cargo ot the
consignee. As it is, there seems to be a tendency on the part of steamship
companies to embellish their already amply safe-guarded Bills of Lading by
the addition of diverse rubber stamp adornments embodying extra charges or
extra conditions calculated to free them from every conceivable form of respon­
sibility in respect of cargo handled.
Consignees are thereby placed in a very helpless position, and there is muoh
doubt whether such an over-cautious policy is not likely to prove as prejudicial
in the long run to the interests of the carrying agents aa it certainly is to those
of importers.
Shipping.—One hundred and fifty-eight (168) steamers with a tonnage of
180,607 have entered and 100 steamers with a tonnage of 106,178 cleared the
port of Bushire, showing a decrease of 1 steamer and 14,626 tons in tannage
under entrance and 11 steamers and 10,187 tons in tonnage under clearance.
Four (4) with a tonnage of 6,012 tons were under the Russian, flag.

R. A. RICHARD8,
Mis Britannic Majesty's Vice-Consul.