Page 294 - Records of Bahrain (2)(ii)_Neat

620 Records of Bahrain

30 ADMINISTRATION UEPOUT OF T1IK PERSIAN C1ULP POLITICAL RESIDENCY
It lias been confidently asserted that some 20 years ago the banks
were more pregnant, but that compensation is now afforded in the higher
price paid for pearls.*
Twenty yearo ago the market price is slated to have been about
12 krans (or about Rupees 5) a
(a) Tlic weight u?cd, the "chno,” Is said
to lutvo varied during the pn**t 20 yenr* “ chno, ” whilst it stands now at 35
relatively to Unit of lJombny. Tlmt is krans.f Wo must llOWCVer liot lose
to say, the Gulf "clino" is now heavier sight of the fact that the kran has
tlun in former times. been debased.^
As to this asserted diminution of the yield becoming more marked
I should he very sceptical.
There would be nothing to account for anything of the sort (other
than a natural temporary deficit) iu the manner that the fisheries have
been carried on of late years.
I Lave failed to obtain mention or even tradition of any failure
in this marine harvest, and indeed the fish has here everything in its
favour.
In the first place, there is the climate, the usually quiet weather,
and sea, the luiudreds of miles of shoal water, wanned through aud
through by that dead heat, which, ns the Arabs themselves say, makes
the fish jump out of u the water to get cool.” Then the cooler deeps
as a perpetual preserve; for the boldest u Sedec” diver will not fish J as
a rule beyond twelve fathom, and there is not one man in twenty who
c:su go down sixteen, and lastly the temper, or continence, of the divers
themselves. They arc too wise to kill the goose with golden eggs, and
say “ that will do for another year” when they coinc upon a small lot of
shells.
This presents a rather remarkable
Mr. Mnrklmm*a n-port, published in
Madras on Tiimcwlly lVarl Fishery. contrast to the manner iu which the
Communicated to u«rard of Rcvcuuc, Tituievelly fisheries are reported to have
Douibay Govcruiueut, 18G5. been " worked.”
On the whole, perhaps, the idea of any important diminution in tho
supply may be dismissed.
31. With regard to the greater or less fertility of banks, this is
supposed to depend on the depth of the water, but tho Arabs do not seem
to attach much more importance to one locality than to another.
They say that they find considerably more shells in shallow than
in deep water, though these are generally smaller, nlso that the oysters
arc not as a rule larger on new banks than on the old ones.

• Lately the value of pearls lioa fallen In the Indian market The fall baa been going
on for * tree yean, and it ii actually ch.-ajar to buy in India than at Hahrrln. The trad#
however la In fact a monopoly which may accouut for Ibia. I have failed to undortiand
the reason thoroughly.
t In 1824 the 41 Irani were equal to one dollar. Tho dollar la now worth 5| krans.
X Tho tuna! depth U »U to eight or ten EngUth fathom.