Page 400 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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was ihc subject of discussions between the Government and representatives of the Bahrain
Petroleum Company was the use of natural gas from the oilfield for the purpose of ecncratin0
more and cheaper electric power, which could be supplied to villages as well as towns and°
later, the use of gas for domestic and commercial purposes. Plans for this scheme were sub­
mitted to the Government by the firm of D. C. and William Press Ltd., who were cncaced in
similar work in Kuwait.
SIR CHARLES BELGRAVE, K.B.E.
Adviser to the Bahrain Government.

THE DIVING INDUSTRY
There is little that can be said about the diving industry except that diving activity decreased
and the number of boats that left for the banks was even less than in the previous year. Only
thirty-two diving boats were registered, of these 23 had their accounts dealt with by the author­
ised clerks.

The value of the catch, as far as can be ascertained, was Rs. 6,14, 000/-, this being a record
low catch. Pearls, however, fetched good prices and there was a steady market.

The advances were Rs. 275/- and Rs. 235/- to divers and pullers respectively. All the
boats made a profit.

The reason for the deplorable decline of this ancient industry is lack of divers, not lack of
capital. Diving used to be a family affair, and the men of one family would for many gener­
ations work during the season as divers; for the rest of the year they expected to be able to live
on what they earned during the summer. To-day the people of Bahrain have become accus­
tomed to steady work throughout the year; the young Arab, whether he has been through
school or not, has no difficulty in finding well paid employment in Bahrain or elsewhere.
Nowadays no parents contemplate their sons becoming divers and the number of Bahrain Arabs
who are still diving is rapidly decreasing. Most of the Bahrain boats were manned during
the season by foreign divers from Persia and from Oman where there are still men who come
up to Bahrain to dive.

During the year His Highness appointed a committee consisting of merchants an
Nakhudas to codify the diving law and to suggest innovations which might assist the industry.
The Committee produced no results. The merchants, who were men with no financial intcres
in the industry, made proposals, which were rejected by the Nakhudas, they suggested ras ,c
changes in the whole system which the Nakhudas refused to accept or even to consider. ey
did however agree that there was little to add to the diving proclamations which in themsc ves
covered all the rules which are applicable to diving.

MEDICAL DEPARTMENT REPORT 1371—1952
(Report by Dr. R. H. B. Snow, M.B.E., Senior Medical Officer)
to medical treatment and i ■*;!,anScs»somc interesting lines of action on new approaches
branches of work ’ ^ °f neW slaff’ which has given a great impetus to all

preventive side of medicine hq?nniTCW llUS a,wa>'s bcen a misnomer as Public Health on the
of the Bahrain Government Medici 1^ ™°rc reccnlty come inl° prominence. The new name
and treatment. The following arc its tpar embraces all sections of medical effort