Page 115 - 3 Persian Trade rep KUWAIT 1_Neat

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or two-thirds of the catch being disposed of in 15. Exchange.—Daring the jear under report,
Bahrain or shipped theoco to Bombay, consequently exchange has been fairlj stable, varying from Ha. 1S9
helping to swell the Bahrain figures whilst not to fU. 141 per cent, of Maria Theresa dollar*.
appearing in the Kuwait roturns. An important currency reform was carried out
by the Shaikh during the year by which tho^ official
9. Exports by Buggalows.—■ local car.ency hna become the In lian rupee in place
of the Maria Thoivsa dollar. The latter is still a:*rd
Animals — Show a decrease of Rs. 10,200 which largflj, bat accounts aro kept and prices quoted in
is due to the diversion of the trade to tho steamer rupees, » fact which is a source of inestimable con­
traffic.
venience to merebauta.
Tea.—The dcorcaso of Rs. 10,000 in this commo­
dity is duo to disturbed siato of Persia a hero most W. H. F. SITAKESPEAR, Captain,
of the supply reaching Kuwait is smuggled. Political Agent, Kutcaii.
Specie.—Figures arc not available, but scarcely
any has been exported by native craft. Tit lClk .May 1912.
Wood for building boats.—Shows a decrease of
11s. 25,CO) which is duo to tho supply on hand being
icquircd for local boat-building and the usual ship­ A.—Total Imports.
ments to Bahrain not having been made.
10. Boat building—A large number of new boats
have bocn built in Kuwait in 1911-12 both for pearl­
ing and for sale. No reliable figures of their cost are Com try. 1903-10. 1910-11. 1911-12.
available but a rough estimate of one to one and half
lakhs of rupees h:»s bica arrived at as the value of
some G5 io 70 new boats. It is not possible to include
these figures in the returns uor in the total \alue of Rs. Rs. Ra.
the trade of the port. The industry depends for I
progreison good pearl seasons, and the demand for Aiucrin (North jnd 1,13,577 65,250 1,06,750
coir and coir rop*. sail cloth, fish oil, etc., fluctuates South'.
6,650
9,600
in accordance with the supply of boats. Arab Coast 55.T23 1,61,070 3,09,350
7-5.521
Au-tru
11. Customs.—In January 1912 tbe Shaikh raised France . • l,0S.c50 51,730 42,00-5
the duty on livc-.-tock ain'ving from the interior j Germany . !*W» 1.92.V10 92,617
from ; Kran per sheep and goat and §2 per camel to I India 19.72.570 2192.521 31,74,513
1 Kran per goat or cheep and Rs. 10 per cent, on ! Persia 2,7;4,023 2,87,102 2,93,3 45
camels. The enhanced rates have in no way affected RuJ'-ii 1,355 1,200 T.SU
2,756
the expoit trade. Swi-dt-n . I 5.34.7-7 6,66,327 5,9 4.913
TurkisS Arabia .
12. Public health.—The climate of Kuwait is drier United Kingdom 5,81^»‘0 4,49,240 4
and consequently more salubrious than most of the Other ountrivs. j 53,9«'i 1 32.8SO 48,005
seaports in the Persian Gulf. There is no fresh
water in Kuwait nor in tho neighbourhood and the Total . | 3s.02.2e1 44,15,54C 52,17.234
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whole water-supply of the town is drawn from the
Shatt-al-Arab by boat6 which arc specially built and
fitted with wooden tanks for the purpose. A.—Total Exports.
13. Freights.—Freights daring theycarrulcd from
Ks. S to Rs. 10 per ton from Kuwait to Bombay
and from £1 S*\ 0<i. to £1 11*. 0J. for London and
European porta, by the British India Steam Naviga­ Country. 1909-10. 1910-11. 1911-12.
tion Company’s steamer*. I
14. Shipping.—During the year a new steamship
company, fl<*ated w.th Arab capital and called the
Arab Steamers, Limited, commenced running. There Rs. Rs. Rs.
was some cutting of freights, the Arab Company
offering Rs. 7 to 9 between Bombay and Kuwait. India 8,03,177 10,21,082 734,411
Arab Coi5t 2,72,751 3,89,124 1,824)76 I
The British India Steam Navigation Company German r 12j&'*5
maintains a fortnightly service to the port taking Persian Coast j M6375 2.23,990 72.471
16 days from Bombay and 13 days to that port. Tbe , • ! 10,00i 8,500 7J05
Arab Steamer*, Limited, also maintain a fortnightly Ara - 1^4,735 1,01,616 66,160
4325 1,050 1AJO ;
Sixty-nine 6tcam vessels and 3,776 sailing boat* Total . . , 14,11,363 j 16.45,361 10,77,318
called at Kuwait doling the year nnder report.
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