Page 13 - 5 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE I_Neat

BUS II IRK. 7
There is a slight increase in wheat and barley, bnt, as stated wTirat
elsewhere, the export as shown in the custom-house returns is
not as large ns was expected or the harvest justified.
There is a big increase in the export of woollen carpets this TK’ooIW
year owing to the disturbed state of Russia. It was found safer CMrP*Um
to export them by the south than by the north.
Almonds, pistachios and fresh and dry fruits (dates) show Ahnond%
increases, due to a good year. pistachio**
Gum shows an increase. The export to Germany is gradually Gum.
growing.
Raw cotton shows also an increase. More interest is being taken Raw cottbm.
in its growth in the south, which might partly be attributed to the
advent of a Russian firm.
In the Persian Gulf “ heavy duties ” are synonymous with “heavy Smugcfinp.
smuggling.” All articles bearing a heavy duty are largely smuggled
into the country through the means of native boats and the various
small ports.
The goods as.a rule are brought to Muscat, Oman, Dubai,
Bahrein and Koweit by steamers from Europe and India. The
trade in these ports is far in excess of their actual requirements, and
from these ports systematic smuggling is carried on with the smaller
Persian Gulf ports, notwithstanding the vigilance and untiring
efforts of the European staff of the Custom Administration,
to the detriment of the Government Treasury and the bona fide
merchants.
Guns, tea, spices, indigo, &c., all bearing high duties or prohibited,
are smuggled into the country, while wheat and barley are smuggled
out of it.
It is estimated that 40,000 to 45,000 tons of wheat and barley
were smuggled from the various small ports of Southern Persia
during the year to Busreh, Koweit, Bahrein and Arab ports.
This is due to the fact that duty according to the tariff, winch is
1 kran per 10 batmans on wheat and barley alike, is equal to 15 to
20 per cent, on the former and 30 to 40 per cent, on the latter, which
has so seriously affected the export of grain from Bushire
by bona fide traders that only 476 tons were exported in 1905,
although the harvest was as good if not better than in 1894 when
some 40,000 to 50,000 tons were exported. S'
During the year one of the principal steamship companies Ste*m»hip»
took the opportunity of sending a representative from their managing comPan***‘-
house to inquire into the working of the Gulf ports.
Although but a fleeting visit was paid to Bushire, the principal
port in the Golf, it was a move in the right direction, and could be
followed to advantage by other companies and repeated.
Since the introduction of a customs administration controlled by
experienced men, drawn from the Belgian Customs Department,
the increase of trade, the interest other countries besides the United
Kingdom and India are taking in Persia, and the opening up of
new trade routes to the interior, the working of the steamship com-
(934) A 4