Page 163 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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Jn spite of the disasterous result of the season for the divers and nakbudas
money was made by brokers and pearl dealers.
Advances. At the annual meeting held by the Government to decide the
amount of the diving advances the leading men of the industry announced that
unless the amount of the advances was considerably reduced they would he compelled
to release their divers on “ barwas”. Divers on ** barwa" receive no advance from
their own nakhudas and are free to dive with any nakhuda, who will employ them,
on condition that they pay } of their earnings to their original nakhuda. It was
decided that the advances should be as follows :—

Diver Puller

Tcsqam Rs. 20 0 0 Rh. 15 0 0
Salaf „ 20 0 0 „ 15 0 0
Kharjieh „ 10 0 0 „ 10 0 0
Rs. 50 0 0 Rs. 40 0 0

In 1356 the advances totalled Rs. 00/- diver and Rs. 70/- puller.
In spite of the drastic reduction a number of nakhudas have not been able to
make advances to their divers. There was no protest or complaint from the divers
when the proclamation about advances was issued.
Pearl Propaganda. During 193d a number of leading pearl dealers, most of
whom were American, formed an association in New York registered under the name
of Pearl Associates The object of this body was to stimulate public interest in real
pearls and to combat the cultured pearl propaganda. Real pearls, in the past, have
not required advertisement, but the sellers of cultured pearls advertise their goods all
over the world.

The Mellon Institute of Industrial research agreed to conduct a scientific
investigation of the cultured pearl and to issue an authentic opinion, which would
carry weight and which is expected to counteract the unfounded claims put forward
in favour of cultured pearls, j he real pearl is to be advertised by means of press
publicity and modern methods.
During the summer of 1938 Mr. Charles Murrav, of the firm of Cromur, a
member of the Association and a well known pearl dealer visited Bahrain and met
many of the local pearl merchants to whom he explained the object of the
association. The Bahrain Government decided to contribute to the association and
a public meeting was held iu November which was attended by leading local and
foreignfrepresentatives of the pearl industry at which the whole matter was discussed.
It was announced that the Government would contribute Rs. 17,000 to the associa­
tion and a subscription list was opened for contributions from local pearl dealers.
Approximately Rs. 3,000 was received.
Pead Associates are employing Mr. Edward Bernays, a well known American
“ publicist ” to organise a publicity campaign for real pearls.
It is hoped that during the course of the investigations the Mellon Institute
may develop a practicable apparatus for testing uudrilled pearls. The only machine
whioh now exists for testing them is too cumbersome and costly for ordinary use.
Future Prospects. The immediate outlook of the Bahrain pearl industry
does not appear to be bright and conditions generally do not seem favourable to an
improvement in the trade. It is frequently suggested that if diving could cease for
one season the market would improve but such a step could only be taken with the
co-oneration of all the diving States in the Gulf and it is unlikely that they would
combine.