Page 415 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

11

DIVING INDUSTRY
The 1366 diving season was a disastrous failure. The Government of India placed an embargo
on the import of pearls, for sale, and this had serious effects on the diving industry in Bahrain.
Bombay has been for many years the market for Gulf pearls. Before the war a few important Indian
buyers used to visit Bahrain in the season but during and since the war they ceased from coming
here and most of the catch was taken to Bombay by Bahrain pearl merchants who disposed of their
pearls in India. No facilities for drilling and grading pearls exist in Bahrain, though in the past,
perhaps half a century ago, there were many Arab pearl drillers in the country and one of the districts
of Manama is still called the district of the pearl drillers.

The embargo came into force during the diving season and many of the leading Nakhudas pro­
posed abandoning their diving. This would have caused a serious position and would probably have
resulted in trouble from the divers. The Government persuaded the Nakhudas to continue diving
until the end of the season by assisting them with loans, without interest, amounting Rs. 1,62,000
which enabled them to finance their boats until Guffal.
All Nakhudas and divers lost monej' on the season, the only people who made any profit were
the pearl brokers but they too made less than usual. The average amount which a diver earned was
Rs. 157 and a puller got Rs. 105, last year the average earnings were Rs. 445 and Rs. 205
respectively. This represents the earnings for four months and ten days which compares very un­
favourably with the wages which could be earned for shore work. The advances for the 1366 season
amounted to Rs. 271 for a diver and Rs. 227 for a puller so the result of the season was that
divers increased their debts to their Nakhudas. The leading Nakhuda of Bahrain is thought to have
lost about three lakhs of rupees on the season.

Prices of pearls at the beginning of the season were fairly high but with the news of the
embargo on the import of pearls into India prices dropped steeply though they recovered slightly
towards the end of the season.
The value of the catch is estimated at 11J lakhs, in 1365 it was estimated at over 32 lakhs.
Only 146 boats took part in the diving which was a decrease of 56 boats against the number
engaged in diving during the previous se ason.
7
The prospect for the 136^ season is viewed with apprehension.

i