Page 506 - 6 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE 2_Neat

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COMMERCIAL SUMMARY
Currency.—In the Sheikhdoms on the Arab side of the Gulf, i.e.,
Bahrain, etc., the unit most commonly in use for commercial dcolu)
other countries is still the Indian rupee. In Iran itself, however, the c
unit is the rial, the exchange rate of which has been arbitrarily fixed
Government at 80 rials to the pound sterling.
Weights and Measures.—The Arab side uses English weights and ts
for foreign trade. In Iran the unit mostly in use is the " man.” 71
is subject to slight variations according to localities but the ” man ” w
6-54 lbs. is the most generally accepted unit for trading purposes.
Shipping Lines.—The most frequent calls are made by the passen
freight carrying services of the British India Steam Navigation Co
This Company operates a weekly service for passengers, carg
mails between Bombay and Basra, called the fast mail service
service leaves Bombay on Thursdays and calls only at Karachi and
cn route. Steamers reach Basra on the following Thursdays and leav
on the return voyage on Saturdays or Sundays.
This Company also maintains a weekly slow mail service to the Gui
which leaves Bombay on Wednesdays and calls at all the intermedia*
on the way to Basrah, i.e., Karachi, Muscat, Bandar Abbas, Bahrain, F
Kuwait, Khorramshahr, and whenever cargo is available at Gwadur,
Jask Sharjah. Dibai, etc. Particulars of freight rates and sailings £
obtained from the Company's office in London or their agents in B<
Regular communication with the United Kingdom is maintained
Strick & Ellerman Line, which has regular monthly sailings from L
Glasgow, Manchester, and Marseilles, and provides good accommodat
a limited number of passengers. There are also regular bi-monthly *
from Amsterdam and Antwerp, and occasional sailings from other
Kingdom ports.
The following steamship companies also call monthly at the Gulf P<
Java Silver Pacific Line Nippon Yusen Kaisha
(recently inaugurated) Osaka Shosen Kaisha
Yamashita Line Mitsui Bussan Kaisha
The Italian Lloyd Tricstino Company also sends an occasional a
to the Gulf whenever sufficient cargo offers, Greek steamers al;
and again make an apj>oarance in the Gulf.
The Hansa Line (German) maintains a direct monthly service
Bremen, Hamburg, Antwerp and Rotterdam to the Gulf j>orts.
Air Services.—The Gulf ports are well catered for in this respect. In
Airways operate a bi-weekly service on the Arab side of the Gulf in coni
with the Australia service which calls at Kuwait, Bahrain, Sharjah ai
Gwadur. On the Iranian side the K.L.M. (Dutch) Lines maintain
weekly service in both directions in connection with their Amste
Batavia Service which calls at Jask with an optional landing at B
whilst the Air France also maintains a weekly service in connection wit
service to Indo-China. which calls at Bushirc and Jask.
Banks.— The Imperial Bank of Iran maintains branches at various
on the Gulf such as Bushire, Kliorramshahr, Abadan : the Banque
(National Bank) Iran has offices in Bushire, Bandar Abbas and Khorran
and the Eastern Bank in Bahrain and Basra.
Weather.—In summer the climate of the Gulf area is hot and very <
It varies in different localities but Bushirc may be said to be thi
unpleasant climatically. The humidity all over the Gulf is high, esp
at Bahrain and Bandar Abbas. The best season for visitors is the a
and spring during which time the climate is tolerable and ordinary £
clothing may comfortably be worn.