Page 161 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

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Surveyors and travellers, 1832-1837 151

PEARL FISHERY. 115

in the trade are the inhabitants of the pirate
coast and the island of Bahrain. Custom has
assigned limits to both, boats belonging to the
former seldom proceeding beyond, or to the
northward of, Halool, while those fitted out by
the inhabitants of Bahrain prosecute their
labours between that island and the port of
Katif. “ Such as are fished (says Major
Wilson) in the sea near the islands Kharak
and Borgo, contain pearls which are said to be
of superior colour and description, from being
formed of eight layers or folds, whilst others
have only five: but the water is too deep to
make fishing for them either very profitable or
easy there ; besides, the entire monopoly of the
fishery is in the hands of the Sheik of Bushire,
who seems to consider these islands as his
immediate property.” The Bahrain boats, again, ]
being in its immediate vicinity, return when
laden to their own port for the purpose of
opening their oysters, while those from the
pirates’ coast proceed, for a similar purpose,
to the several islands with which the lower
part of the coast is studded. Not less than
three thousand boats are employed during the
season, and we had occasion to thread our
way through fleets of two or three hundred.
All were briskly engaged, as the weather,
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