Page 268 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

IG
266

Pearl Industry. -5-

I£r. Rosenthal .snd Shaikh Ilohomed Ali Zainal did not
visit Bahrain although they came to Bombay. At the

end of the season, as usual, most of the Bahrain
merchants went down to Bombay, following the foreign

buyers, but they were unable to sell. During the
year two Bahrain merchants, Jasim Kanco, and the

son of Kohomed bin Hindi went with their goods to
Paris but they also found no market, partly owing

to the pearls not having been bored.
Prospects for 1351. The prospects for the new

season are not encouraging. In spite of the low
Selaf most of the Naukhudas declare that they have

no money to equip their boats. The Khanchieh, a

preliminary diving season lasting not more than a
month, has produced very disappointing results
both in quality and quantity. It is generally

considered as a reliable forecast of the main season.
It is possible though that the small catch may be

partly accounted for by the weather being unfavour­
able during about half of the time, another explana­

tion is that the divers themselves are very weak as

they have had to exist on such meagre rations during the
year, If this is true, the prospect for the new season
is depressing.

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