Page 160 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

150 Records of Bahrain

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CHAPTER VI.

Maude’s group of Islets—Pearl Fishery—l\Iodo of obtaining the
Pearls—'Their probablo value—Commerce of Bahrain—Advan­
tages of position—Surveying Vessels—Fresh water obtained
from beneath the salt.

Our course the first few days lay along that
extensive bank which girds the greater portion
of the Arabian side of the Persian Gulf; coral
reefs, nearly on a level with the water, occa­
sionally rear themselves, but in general the
depth varies from five to fifteen fathoms. Here
from a very early period has been carried on
the most- extensive fishery for pearls in the
world. Those which are procured are also, I
believe, of the very finest quality, the largest,
and the most valued. This single article
of commerce produces the means of subsis­
tence for nearly the whole population of the
Arabian shore of this sea. The pearl oysters
are found more or less along the whole of the
Arabian coast.
The right of fishing is common to all the
gulf, but those who engage most extensively