Page 201 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

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out for short spells on the Khammas sysbem, which means tiiet
they will take no advances and the Nekhuda will receive l/5th

of the profits. This system has fc&q much to recommend it and
is almost universclly practised on trie mainland. It is free

from many abuses that exist -in the Gelafieh system, the divers
themselves obtain a fairer share of the profits without increas­
ing their debts to their Nokhudns, but it is not popular with
the Tajaas os they have no prior claim on the cctches and they

lose their hold on the divers.
IflOoPECTS FOR COMING SEASON. Owing to the decrease in the be

boats which will probably go out divine in the coming season
it is likely that the catch will be very small, although this
will effect the divers very badly, and cause much want and
unemployment, it will be perhaps advantageous to the industry

as a whole. The pearl banks will be lessi disturbed for
a season and may therefore produce better results the fol­
lowing year, when it is to be hoped the market v/ill have

returned to normal condition, the unsold stocks of pearls
which -are now held by the Balirain merchants are sufficient
without any new pearls, to supply the market L'or a year.

COKPaRISON 07 JEA30NS 1347/1348 and 1348/49. From figures
obtained from the officially recognised diving clerks of
Muharrak and Hidd a fairly accurate estimate of the results

of the two seasons can be obtained.
Many of the big est boat owners keep their own diving
clerks but the following statistics are from 249 boats whose

accounts are dealt with by the Diving clerks.
1347/48 1348/49
Total number of boits which went
to the bahks from Bahrain. 538 509
249 boats: total value of sales 1347/48 - v 27,09,000/-
" ------ do --------- 48/49 - 10,50,000/-
This sum represents the value of the pearls obtained by
the Nakhudes of the boats which is divided ancr^n^ the Nakhuda