Page 435 - 4 Persian Trade rep KUWAIT 2_Neat

Report on the Trade of Kuwait for the year 1937-38

(1st April 1931 to 31st March 1938)

BY
Captain G. S. dcGaury, M.C.,
Political Agent, KtnCaiL

pearl trade which has been the chief industry of
PART I. Kuwait and the fact that there was practically
no trade with Ncjd. The pearl 44 catch ” on the
1. General. whole was good. as also the prices. According
2. Currency. to the Customs export figures some Rs. 2.58,000
3. Weights ami Measures. Sec Trade Report worth of pearls were estimated to have been ex­
4. Pearl Fishing. - for the year 1932- ported for sale in India and elsewhere. Bat this
5. Customs Administra­ 53. figure as explained under “ exports ” cannot be
tion and Lighterage. relied on in any way.
6. Sea Fisheries. 12. Imports.—The total imports by sea amounted
7. Freight, Shipping and Navigation.— to Rs. 54.77,-183 which showed an increase of 46-62
per cen:. ns compared with the figures for 1936-37.
(а) for general remarks sec Trade Report for
the year 1932-33. This increase is accounted for by the known increase
(б) The rate of freight by the British India in the imports of tea, specie, coffee and cement.
Steam Navigation Company’s steamers Of the total import trade 46-86 per cent, waa with
was Rs. 13-12-0 from Bombay or Karachi India. 8-92 per cent, with Iraq, 13-65 per cent, with
to Kuwait, and vice versa. Persian Const, 2-12 per cent, with the United King­
8. Communications.— dom, 7-92 per cent, with Japan, 9-11 per cent, with
{a) For general remarks see Trade Report for Arab Ccast and 11-12 per cent, with other countries.
the year 1932-33. 13. Er ports.—The total exports by sea amounted
(6) With effect from 23rd February 1928 Im­ to Rs. 23,20,075 and showed an increase of 31-80
perial Airways discontinu-ed calling at per cent, as compared with the figures for 1936-37.
Kuwait. This is accounted for by a marked increase in tbe
export of wool, barley and tea. Pearls of the aggre­
9. Beat Building.—Forty nine boat? of an aggre­ gate amount of Rs. 2,58,000 are shown in the tables
gate value of Rs. 70,100 were built in Kuwait during as haviLg been exported for sale to Indian market*,
the year under review. Of these one bad a carrying but accurate figures of these as well as of specie
capacity of 240 tons. These figures are not included can, as mentioned elsewhere^ never be obtained,
in the Trade Report. Many smaller rowing boats as both are nearly always carried away amongst
were also built which it is unnecessary to enumerate.
The increase is due to the growing reputation of personal luggage.
Of the total export trade 38-20 per cent, was with
the Kuwait boats. India, 34-42 per cent, with Arab Coast, 17-39 per
10. Labour.—The average price of labour was as
follows:— cent.’with Iraq, 7-93 per cent, with Persian Coast
and 2-06 per cent, with other countries.
1. An unakillod labourer From Re. 1 &o Re. 1-8 p. <L
2. A Carpenter From Re. 2 to Re. S p. i 14. Rm in fall.—
IneWa.
3. A boat bailder . From Re. 2 to Ra. 4 p. i
11. The Year 1937-38.—The year under review April. 1937 . •32
was again not a favourable one for trade, although May. 1837 . •14
H showed a slight improvement in the exports of the November, 1027 1-70
immediately preceding 12 months, owing to the January, 1831 1-22
increased trade with the Saudi Coastal porta and February, 1822 1-27
Dubai. This must be put down to the depression im Marti, 1932 . *20