Page 265 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

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13
Pearl industry. -2-

1347/48 1348/49 49/50
Total number of boats
registered as diving,
(from Bahrain) 538 509 504

Total value of pearls
found, i.e., original
amount: paid to the
finders*, Bahrain • in 1348/49 Rs 21,25,000/- or
£ 1,57,407.
— do — in 1349/50 - Rs 18,32,000/- or,
£ 1,35,703.

According to these figures the difference between
the 1348/49 and 1349/50 seasons was comparatively small
but the production during these last two seasons res­
pectively was less than half the season of 1347/43.
In the total weight of the pearls there was very little
difference between the last season and the one before,
but during the last season fewer large pearls were found.
The five or six largest pearls found during the last
season weighed between 17 to 20 chows each.
Selaf and Tescuam advances. The Tescuam after the
last season was settled as usual by a public meeting of
pearl merchants and naukhudas at Rs 30/- for a diver and
Rs 25/- for a puller, This abnormally low amount raised
no protest as the financial condition of the pearl indus-
try is now thoroughly well known, At the end of the
year a similar meeting was held to decide upon the Selaf
which was fixed at the same amount as the Tesquam with
the additional payment of Rs 15/- to divers and pullers

alike at the "Kharjieh" which is the interval between
during the last quarter of the season when the boats
come ashore for five days. It is unlikely that there
will be any commotion in connection with the Selaf.
Only a few years ago the advances at Selaf were Rs 180/-
and