Page 21 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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The P.W.D. budget for 1362 provides for the completion of the Sea Road Extension, a wall
surrounding the Government Hospital with gates, some improvements to the Fort including a new
Clothing Store and magazine, enlargements to the jail at Jida, a dhobi ghat near the Palace Garden,
further alterations to the Manama Palace, a guard room at the Adviscrate, rebuilding the Fort stables,
additions and alterations to Government Hospital Dispensary and a Mortuary. The total amount
allocated for new works is Rs. 50,000. Upkeep of roads and bridges is estimated at Rs. 15,000 and
annual repairs to Government buildings at Rs. 15,000.
THE DIVING INDUSTRY.

Although the price of pearls was higher than last year, especially at the end of the season, yet
the season as a whole was a bad one. Divers, Nakhudas and the shore merchants who financed the
boats in most cases made no profits. Out of 188 boats whose accounts were dealt with by
the Government clerks only 45 boats made a profit. One important pearl was found which was sold
for Rs. 6,000 and in this boat divers received Rs. 282 and pullers Rs. 188.
At one time prices in the pearl market dropped suddenly by 25% but recovered after some
weeks and then rose at the end of the season. This fluctuation was due to the disturbances in India
which caused the Bombay market to close down for some time.
The reason for the unsuccessful season was the great increase in the price of foodstuffs and
the increase in the amounts of the diving advances which were decided upon at the usual meeting of
diving Nakhudas and merchants soon after the previous season. The 1360 season was good and the
merchants and Nakhudas optimistically assumed that the 1361 season would be still better.
There was an increase in the number of diving boats, in 1360 the number of licensed diving
boats was 222, in the year under review 298 boats went to the banks.
I estimate that the value of the catch in 1361 was Rs. 10,35,000, about 28% more than in 1360.
This represents the amount received by divers and Nakhudas and is considerably less than the final
value of the pearls when they leave Bahrain after changing hands.
The biggest buyers in 1361 were Seth Kishni and Seth Gendmal, Hindu merchants of Bombay,
Messrs. Dhamanmal Isardas, Shaikh Mustafa bin Abdul Latif, Shaikh Mohamed Ali Zainai and Haj
Abdul Rehman Mohamed Taher Khunji.
A new and useful market, though not at present very important, for medium and low grade
pearls developed in Iraq where Jewish merchants have begun to interest themselves in pearls.
The following table shows the fluctuations in prices in Bahrain during the season :—
1360 1361
per chow per chow
Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs.
Sherin 70 to 90 120 to 150
Golwa 15 to 20 30 to 35
Na’am 25 to 30 40 to 45
Badla 5 to 7 8 to 10
The following is a summary of the account of a typical diving boat:—
15 divers
16 pullers
1 Nakhuda
Receipts Rs. a. p. Payments Rs. a. p.
Sales of pearls 2,302 0 0 Government tax 25 o o
i/5th share of Nakhuda and
financier........................... 455 6 6
Cost of food 884 7 o
Shares of divers @ Rs. 37 .. 554 *4 6
Shares of pullers ® Rs. 24 .. 382 4 0

2,302 0 0 2,302 0 0