Page 293 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

The pearl fisheries, 1877-1878 619

AKD MUSCAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOE TUK YEAR 1877-78. 35

have seen some samples of small and yellow, but very brilliant, pearls
which were gathered at the island of K arrack close to Bushirc.
The banks which arc mostly fished arc those that lie between the
21th and 27th degrees of North Latitude and the 50th and 55th degrees
of East Longitude in the shoal waters of the Arab Coast.

It is almost unnecessary to specify any particular localities, as
the whole of the shallows ore more or less fertile, and the fishing ground
seem to be liable to contiuual change, but the banks of Dehec, Shiltaye,
Guuiroll and Arfaj are famous.

27.. "With regard to tills characteristic of a constant shifting of
the fish, instance may be made of the harvest of 1S7G, when nearly every
boat in the Gulf was riding in the vicinity of the Shah* Alum shoal,
which is situated almost iu the middle of the Gulf, boasts a very small
circumference, and is surrounded by deeps of 30 and 40 fathom where no
diver could ply his trade.
Here the haul was very large, it was in fact a “bumper” year, but
when the boats came down on it next year in full anticipation of another
rich harvest, there was comparatively uotbiug forthcoming.
28. Broadly however it is safef to 6ay that the boats collect prin­
cipally between Sir-beni Yas island and Shiltaye, where lie the best
known and most fished banks, and where a smaller or greater yield is
a certainty.
This enormous extent of ocean is almost all of it shallow enough
to be at the mercy of the Arab diver.
The banks vary in distance from the shore from one to ninety miles,
hut the deep sea banks are not so much fished till the “Shemal” or Nor*
westers of June have spent their force.
29. These gales, very sudden, severe, aud of certain yearly recur*
rence, are much dreaded by the Arab sailors, whose boats indeed seem
scarcely fitted to weather a hurricane peculiarly buoyant as they are,
mu biiguiest gust at an unexpected moment will send the gunwale
the slightest gust at
down a fieur del’can. Fair weather is the more an essential to Ibeir
system of navigation, as they use no charts, compasses, &c.; t ey are
guided by bearings from the land, by the sun, and the colour of the
water by day, the stars and the moon by night, but their local kno
ledge of the sea bed is said to be very thorough*

Fertility.
. 30. 'With regard to tho fertility of the banks Jh° weight
evidence would seem to be in favour of the supposition that the yield
has decreased of late year*.

• Longitado 62° 80V
latitude 26® 2y.
t Longitude 52’ 37' to KF 13V
L*Utod« 35° i</ to W* #r.