Page 91 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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The Pearl Industry.

During 1356 there was remarkable improvement in the pearl industry in
Bahrain ; from the figures available it appears that the catch was worth over 50%
more to the divers than the catch during 1355. Unfortunately however this improve­
ment was not reflected proportionally by any startling increase in pearl prices in
Europe or in America. In those countries increased activity in the pearl market was
so slight as to be scarcely noticeable.
No important pearls were found during the season, the largest one, from
Katif, weighed 75 chow, but the quantity of small and medium pearls of good quality
was unusually great. The demand locally and in Bombay for these pearls was good
and they obtained much higher prices than last year. It had been generally
expected that the Coronation would stimulate interest in real pearls,
Arab pearl dealers imagined that quantities of pearls would be bought by people who
would wear them during the Coronation festivities but as the improvement in prices
occurred some time after the Coronation, this does not seem to have been the case.
Pearl merchants and Nakhudas, like farmers, are invariably reluctant to
acknowledge any improvement in their business but this year at the annual meeting
of leaders of the local diving industry which is held by the Government, all except
one man admitted that they had done very much better than during 1355 and when
a vote was taken as to the amount of the annual advances all, except one, were in
favour of an increase.

The allowances were decided as follows :—
Tisqam Selaf Kharjieh Total
Diver Rs. 40 Rs. 40 Rs. 10 Rs. 90
Puller 30 30 10 70
Last year’s advances:—
Diver 20 20 10 50
Puller 15 15 10 40
The willingness of the merchants and Nakhudas to increase the advances is a
proof of the improved conditions.
The total number of Bahrain boats licensed to dive during 1356 was 271 which
is only seven more than in 1355 but for several years there has been a steady decline
in the number of diving boats which are licensed so even a slight increase is
encouraging.
The total amount paid to the divers in 1356, according to my calculations,
was Rs. 13,22,000, approximately, £ 1,00,000. Last year the sum was Rs. 6,07,000,
approximately £ 45,000.
Before the season the Government reduced the cost of diving licenses by 50%
in order to help the industry, which caused a loss to the revenue of about
Rs. 17,250. Various other concessions were made giving boat owners more time
to pay the diving licenses.
No boat failed to make a profit in the season, whereas last year several boats
worked at a loss so that at the end of the diving many of the divers received no
money and increased their book debts; but since the Government has controlled and
reduced the advances, big divers’ debts are becoming a thing of the past except in the
case of old men who worked for many years before the diving reforms.
The catch of one boat which was exceptionally fortunate this year, was as
follows:—
1355 1356
Sherin 52 chow. 150 chow.
Badlah 161 „ 430 „
Na’m 216 mithqal 417 mithqal.