Page 647 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

5 -
’As e result of this, only half the usual number of boats went
to the oyster banks. The Bahrain Government advanced money to
a number of pearling boat masters to enable then to finance
their ventures. .Income from this vnar’s dive was estimated at
25 lacs of rupees compared with 40 lacs last year.
Mr. Harvey c. '.7yant, an American Pearl dealer,
established in Bombay, visited Bahrain in the middle of the year
to investigate the possibility of establishing an office and to
buy pearls here because of the ban on import of pearls into India.
He returned in November and bought pearls.
12. CUSTOMS
Customs revenue from all sources amounted to
Rs. 36,40,575/-,an increase of ?»s. 7,57,165/- over the previous
year. The reasons for this increase were the removal of controls
in the United Kingdom end the U.5.A., general revival in trade and
extended operations by Petroleum Concessions Limited, 3?ter. A
certain amount of the increase is due to higher prices.
The total number of Fanrain boats registered by the
Customs Department is 1075 of which 903 are sailing ’coats.
13. FOOD CONTROL

Food supplies vie re no better than last year and the
State devoted a considerable amount of time, energy and money •
towards -.he year providing the necessities of life for the genera},
public. During the year as. 113 lacs :.'?s spent the purchase of
Rice, Tea, Sugar, wheat and mixed Persian grains.
The monthly ceres.."; .ration was successfully maintained
and. the increased rice ration proved very popul-r.
Flour was issued tc the villages cr.ly, as unlike the
towns, they have r.c- facilities for grinding .he-1.
The price cf sugar rose considerably curing the last
three months of the year due tc delays in obtaining c- ota sugar
and the necessity of obtaining such supplies elsewhere in the
open market. *
! 'with a satisfactory harvest in Persia, a steady and
continuous supply of livestock, potatoes, onions, fresh and dried
fruit were imported into Bahrain.
The system of cloth rationing was smoothly run
throughout the year. There was an equal distribution of cloth to
the villages and town areas.
De-control of many more co-'.odities was introduced
during the year. Articles kept under control were these.supplied
under a quota system and for which special exchange was granted
through the Agency.
31ack harket trace was less than last year, due to
the availability of more goods end resulting competitive spirit
among the importers. Prices generally showed no sign of falling.
14. SHIPPING

(i) The following is a statement of ships that called
during the year 1947:-
Britlsh 322 Danish 8
American 179 Italian 7
Norwegian 74 Spanish 18
Dutch 31 Finnish ' 1
Panaraerican 63 Palestinian 1
Swedish 18 Portuguese 1
Total = 723.

The total imports for the year amounted to 71,402
tons and exports to 91,076 tons. ^
9 / (ii) Landing.of cargo