Page 120 - 5 Persian Trade rep BUSHIRE I_Neat

20 mJSHlKE.
the population of Bushirc town to have r.n embargo placed on
the export—a quite useless restriction in view of the prohibitive
prices in Persia and the inability to prevent smuggling to non-
Persian ports in the Gulf. The embargo was ultimately removed,
but the untimely and scanty fall of rain resulted in a practical
failure of the 1003 crop. Prices of wheat by the end of March, 1008,
had already risen to 20} krans (10s.) per Hashem man of 121 lbs.,
and prospects arc very dismal.
The prosperity of trade is more especially influenced in this
district by two considerations(i) Public security; (ii) good
harvests.
The fine crops of 1007 undoubtedly encouraged the heavier
imports, the peasantry having more to spend on clothing, <fcc.,
and should there be timely and sufficient rainfalls from November,
1008, till April, 1000, and cultivation be undertaken on a normal
scale, affairs may improve—though plougliing animals arc reported
emaciated. On the other hand, should the rains of 1003-00 again
prove a failure there will be a considerable amount of distress along
the littoral, local trade will be at a standstill and the price of grain
will rise to famine prices, even possibly to the extent of making the
import of foreign grain profitable.
It will be remembered that some 25.000 cwts. of wheat had to
be imported from India after the bad harvests of 1896 and 1897.
Almonds.—The almond crop of 1907 was r.ot particularly good
in Shiraz, though better near Isfahan, and satisfactory crops in
Syria and other sources of supply resulted in Persian prices being
too high for business with London, hence a fall in the export of
0.100 cwts., including 2.500 cwts. less to the United Kingdom.
There are now large stocks on hand in the interior, both of 1907
and 190S crops, the former selling in Shiraz at 91 to 101 krans
(3s. 9d. to 4s. Id.) per Shiraz man of 7*38 lbs., and the latter at
10 to 11 krans (3s. I Id. to 4s. 4d.), both of which are waiting for
better London prices; 31. 10s. per cwt. will not pay the Persian
•exporter. As things stand, not much business is expected during
1908.
Raisins.—Sultanas showed a small increase of export, and the
Khullari raisin occasionally finds a sale in Europe. The pickings
of 1907 were even better than those of 1906, which were above the
average, and the smallness of the export to Europe is ascribed to
the trouble of preparing consignments, which deters European
firms on the spot. If cleaner and improved methods of packing
raisins and other dried fruits in carton or other boxes could be
adopted it is probable that the sultanas more especially could be
advantageously introduced into the United Kingdom- The trade is
best handled by petty tradesmen able to devote attention to pur­
chasing in the outlying districts and to packing, otherwise special
overseers would be required. The Khullari raisin is said to be
good for distilling purposes and for vinegar. Prices of sultanas
averaged in Shiraz 34 to 36 krans (13*. Ad. to 13*. lid.) per Hashem
indn of 124 lbs.