Page 385 - 1 Persian Trade rep Bahrain 1_Neat

REPORT

OS TUB

TRADE OF THE BAHRAIN ISLANDS

for the year ending the 31st LTarch 1918.

INTRODUCTION. person. Owing; to absence of steamship service,
particularly during the pearl season. a large
A general description of the physical, political quantity of pearls were exported by native boats
z^i commercial peculiarities of the Islands is to fiushire fer shipment to India.
given in the repo rt for the year 1011-12 Annual There is no Bank in Bahrain, and many lakbfl
juries (No. 5032'. Since laet year's report the of rupees are brought in every year by registered
permanent 'population has remained more-or-lcss r>o3t in the form of Indian currency notes of
stationary and still numbers about 103,000. Rl/'OO and H50»\ It is, of course, impossible to
During the pearling season there is usually a obtain statistics of all these sums.
Large temporary increase in the population.
The local Customs department keeps no statis­ EFFECTS OF WAR.
tics of imports and exports, consequently these
Lave to be prepared from steamers* and boats* The year under review shows a general improve­
nuaaifests, access to which has been readily given ment in the trade over the year 1916-17. The
by the courtesy of the Customs Director. They retail prices of all staple food-stuffs were abnor­
are, therefore, incomplete, especially as regards mally high throughout the year owing to high
exports to the mainland and Persian coast, which cost price and increased freight by steamship
have all been carried in native boats and until service as well as native craft. The Political
qoite recently without manifests, and over which Agent in consultation with the Chief of Bahrain
the Customs Director had no control owing to the was obliged to regulate prices of necessaries of
Eierchandise having been shipped from private life to avoid hoarding and profiteering. Owing
g^downs direct into the boats without passing to severe restrictions on the export of specie from
through the Customs House. Quite recently, India, the pearl merchants experienced great
however, at the suggestion of the Political Agent, difficulty in obtaining funds for the purchase of
ihe Shaikh has issued stringent instructions that pearls, and began to issue telegraphic orders
*li goods must pass through the Customs House (handis) at a loss of from B.40 to B90 per
*nd steps are being taken to enforce production fi 1,000 through the local general merchants who,
manifests for all merchandise imported into in anticipation of this difficulty, had imported, in
^ exported from Bahrain by native craft. A lieu of specie, piece-goods, rice, wheat, coffee, and
q\iantity will still, however, undoubtedly sugar in excess of the normal requirements for tho,.
U smuggled oat of the Port. year, and who were, in consequence, in urgouh
The statistics regarding movement of pearls and need of Urafts for payment to their head offices in
^ are very incomplete, as numbers of local India. They took this opportunity to make large
merchants, who travel to and from Bombay, profits on exchange, and began to sell merchandise
foreign pearl merchants, carry large quantities at a narrow margin so as to be able taWp the
pearls and specie in their luggage or on their pearl merchants in sufficient funds for pmubfei
*nr.k i.