Page 103 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

7
DIVING INDUSTRY
Although the season was slightly better than in 1368 yet the diving industry on the whole is at a
low ebb. There was an increase in the number of boats which went to the diving banks, these numbered
83, last year only 69 boats were manned. It is estimated that about 2,000 men were employed on diving
during the season.
The catch was not large ; the amount which was received from the sale of pearls in Bahrain by
nakhudas and divers whose accounts were dealt with by the Government diving clerks was Rs. 4,32,000.
It is estimated that the total catch was sold for about Rs. 8,55,000, which was nearly 3 lakhs more than
was received in the previous year.
Pearl prices remained steady with little fluctuation throughout the selling season. No unusually
large pearls were found, the biggest price paid for one pearl was Rs. 5,000. In the days when the industry
was flourishing this price, for an outstanding pearl, would have been regarded as negligible. Among
the foreign buyers who visited Bahrain were two American pearl dealers, but they were unable to do much
business.
Most of the divers failed to tarn more than the money which had been advanced to them at the
beginning and end of the season, the average amount earned by a diver was Rs. 190 and a puller earned
Rs. 125. In the boat which was most successful the diver’s share was Rs. 316. The advances amounted
to Rs. 200 and Rs. 160. It is not surprising that when men know tliat they can earn more money on shore
they are unwilling to dive. A diver used to earn enough during the four and a half months of the diving
season to keep himself and his family during the off season. Today most of the men who dive work on
shore during the rest of the year.
All diving was suspended during the month of Ramadhan which fell during the diving season ; it
will continue to occur during the season for some years to come. This break probably increased the cost
of equipping and rationing the fleet.
The principal market for pearls continued to be India, though there was an increase in sales of
pearls, especially necklaces, in countries in the Middle East. Prices for lower and medium quality pearls
were good but there was little demand for first-class pearls.

The prices, per chow, of the different grades of pearls were as follows :—
1. Shcrin .. Rs. 100 to Rs. no (good quality)
2. Golwa .. 35 „ 45 (round pearls, second rate quality)
3. Badla .. „ 10 „ 12 (large, poor quality)
4. Na’am .. „ 70 n 75 (seed pearls)