Page 521 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (I)_Neat

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the last season*was $ 15,000/-, unfortunately
this peurl was fouiu by a boat from the main-

land. The largest share earned by u diver on
any one boat during the season was r.s 300/- app.
9. The market. All the Bahrain merchants
sold their new pearls, During the first month
of the season the market was good, later it

became dull, but the pearls were sold at a
slight profit. This in itself is satisfactory.
One of the chief reasons however which retards
any local improvement in the industry is the

large amount of capital which has been sunk
in pearls which are still unsold, Most of
the big local merchants own large quantities
of pearls which they bought three or four years

ago at the comparatively high prices which were
then existing. They cannot now sell these
pearls except at a great loss. Shaikh Llohomed
Ali Zainul, who used to be the leading Arab

pearl dealer in the world, is now in Europe
trying to sell pearls which he bought in Bahrain
several years ago. He holds pearls from Bahrain
which are supposed to be worth about nine lacs,

they were bought from Bahrain pearl merchants on
the understanding that he would pay for them as
he sold them, and he is unable to sell, Last
year neither he nor Mr. Pack or any of the other
European buyers visited Bahrain, Until they

sell their old pearls they are not in a position
to buy new stock, and each year the value of
undrilled pearls decreases.
9. The Divers. There has been a further increase

in the number of Khamamis divers and a correspond-