Page 109 - 5 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE I_Neat

BUSIIIRK. 9

glaring examples of this. In such circumstances a move was made
in the right direction when at the end of the year under review
one or two large firms of importers decided to accept no more orders
until their outstandings had been considerably reduced. This
policy, however, has its disadvantages, for under any very severe
pressure a large number of petty Persian traders would be unable
to meet their liabilities, and at the same time a reputation for
severity on the part of a firm would seriously aflcct the volume
of business put into its hands.
The import business is largely in the hands of firms which
specialise in the trade and have agents on the spot fully alive to
the exigencies of the situation, and they arc no doubt exercising
caution at present in their dealings. For those who prefer direct
dealings with the small Persian trader it is generally possible to
obtain a fair idea of a man’s respectability on application to the
Bank of Persia, or to one of the British firms or the Consulate.
Freights.—Competition kept the homeward freights of the
British lines low throughout 1007-08. For general cargo they
began in April at II. and, except for a short spell in October, when
a rise was attempted, continued steady throughout until March,
1008, then they dropped to 15$. per ton of 10 cubic feet. Freights
for opium started at II. 5s. per chest, but the large amounts coming
down for sliipment led owners to increase them to 21.; threatened
rate-cutting sent this down again soon to II. Considering the
uncertain amount of cargo to be picked up at Bushire and the
largely increased number of steamers participating in the traffic,
rates of freight generally for London appear now to have reached
the lowest point compatible with profit, as the record for the last
few years shows:—
Freight per
40 Cubic Feet.
£ «. <L £ «.
1899.. . 1 6
1900.. 1 7 6 to 1 10
.
1901 ... 15 0 0 19
1902.. . " 1 0 0 0 14*
1904 ... 17 6 1 10
1905... 1 10
1906- 07 1 10 0 10
1907- 08 1 0 0 0 15
* As result of keen competition.

The revival of the export of wheat afforded a little more export
cargo for the United Kingdom than has been available of lato
years. Rates to India show signs of rising rather than falling and
stall stand at 10 rs. per ton of 40 cubic feet, as they have generally
since 1904.
Transport.—Rates for transport from Bushire to Shiraz con-
tinued high and averaged for the year about 132 krans (21. 11$. 9d.)
per 100 Bushire mins, or 775 lbs. These rates are for " yekkesh ”