Page 686 - PERSIAN 9 1941_1947

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Imports consisted chiefly of cereals, textiles and tea, v/hilat fish,

dates and limes wero the main exports#
(b) The exchange rate of the J.faria Thereso dollar proved to be
very unsteady throughout the year, opening at ?.s# 236/— to 100 M.T.

dollars in January and closing at Rs. 216/” to 100 i'.T. dollars in
December# The rate v/gs never constant over a long period and continued
decreasing in value as the year drew on. The reason for this deflation of
the dollar was the decrease in the value of xdates exported and hence the

consequential loss of purchasing pc'.7er of the I.i.T. dollar# Eanking
regulations issuing from India governing the operation of non resident
accounts and the discontinuation of the "Hundi" transfers also
contributed to the loss in value of the dollar# The highest rate

reached during the year was Rs. 268/- to ICO I5.T. dollars in July
and the lowest -/as Rs. 216/- for 100 il.T# dollars reached in December.
(c) The date market opened satisfactorily, the price cf the

superior quality being 440 j'*.T. collars per bahar of 1800 lbs in July,
tut dropped drastically to 195 i:.T. dollars for the sane quantity in
December. The price of the inferior quality opened at 330 , i.T.

dollars per bahar in July and dropped tc 160 cellars per bahar
in December. The inport restrictions in India which is practically
the only mrket for dry dates were responsible for the phenomenal

decrease in the price of dates and the future of Muscat dry cates
is none too cheerful as far as can be seen.
5. CUSTOMS

Mr. U.A. Rashid continued as Director General of the Unseat
Customs throughout the year, although he was granted one month1 s
leave in India,during which time ,'ir. Jethalal officiated.

6. AIR.
(a) South Arabian Air Route - The airfields at Lfasirah and
Salalah were in use throughout the year. These airfields are operated

on a care and maintenance basis and are available to aircraft for landing
and refuelling but the airlines must provide their own personnel to refuel

and no maintenance or servicing facilities for aircraft are provided.

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