Page 455 - 6 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE 2_Neat

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and cotton piece-goods and some sundries. Although the effects
on the market were not so serious as was feared at one time the
introduction of Russian goods through the southern ports un­
doubtedly had an unsettling effect on the market which was further
aggravated by the continued penetration of Russian goods over­
land from north to south.

National Bank.—During the year a National Bank was
founded under the direction of a number of German officials en-
•r*|cred by the Persian Government. The head offices are at
Tehran and branches have been, or are to he, opened in all the
provinces. As the main object of this bank is to be the develop­
ment of agriculture, its effect on the Gulf ports, where agriculture
jc of little importance, is not likely to be great, A branch has
already been opened in Bushire, and as it is making advances to
merchants on very liberal terms, provided it does not come to
•rrief over non-acceptance of bills, it should diminish the prevail­
ing tightness of money and facilitate trade.

Transport.—The Persian railway from Khormusa (now to be
known as Bandar-i-Shahpur) to Tehran via Ahwaz, Dizful and
Hamadan, has been commenced, and it is said that it will be com­
pleted as far as Dizful by the spring of 1930. Should this railway
prove to be a practical proposition it must seriously damage the
position of Bushire as a port of import for Tehran, but should
benefit the trade of the Gulf as a whole.
The Persian Government voted money early in 1929 for the
oinstruction of a new and easier motor road from Bushire to
Shiraz via Firuzabad.

Note on the Persian Date Trade.— General.—A short
note on the Persian date trade, the headquarters of which are at
Mohammerah, has been included as of interest, although the trade
<>f .Mohammerah is actually outside the area covered by this
report.
Tluee varieties of Persian dates are exported to Europe and the
l.nited States:—(I) Hallawees, long golden coloured fruit; (2)
Khadrawees, short dark coloured fruit; (3) Sayers, long chestnut
coloured fruit.
The date picking season extends from mid-August to mid-
November. There are three main shipments called respectively
first, second and third tide. The first shipment usually leaves at
the end of August, the second about the end of .September and the
third towards the end of October. A good local agent should be
appointed who could be relied upon to contract only with those
growers who would select choice, sound, clean dates, free from
disease.