"ملف ٤/٢٧ تقارير متنوعة عن التجارة" [ظ‎‎١‎٥‎٥] (٧٠٢/٣١٥)

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a decrease of £29,213 over last year's figures.
This amount includes £101,995 worth imports
carried by the Buggalow borne traffic.
The main imports are rice* coffee and cotton
goods which are responsible for £186,732 of the
whole total; sugar, wheat, wheat flour are also
largely imported.
America and Japan are serious competitors i n
piece goods trade though all goods are shown as
imported from India whence they are shipped to
Muscat.
Exports.
Total Exports for the year under report
amounted to £314,851 as compared with
£242,323 last year or an increase of £72,548.
This includes £141,628 worth exports carried by
the Buggalow borne traffic as against £108,999
last year.
Dry and wet dates of the value of £198,100
were expoided during the year under report, the
share carried by sailing craft amounts _ to
£122,540. The export of wet dates^ to United
States of America amounted to £7,560 and to
Jndia £50,826.
Dry fish, specie, tobacco and firewood were also
largely exported, though of the last it is impossible
to give any figures. r l he demand for firewood on
the Pirate Coast in Bahrein and on the Mekran
Coast is high and nearly all comes from the
Batinah Coast.
Openings for New Trade.
None exists at present.
Rates of Transport.
Transport along the coast is by sailing vessels
and is cheap. Transport inland is done by pack
animals and is difficult, dangerous and expensive
The rates of transport depend upon the distance,
the goods have to be conveyed and the difficulty
of the journey.
Freight and Shipping.
The figures relating to these matters are given
in the usual form. They have been obtained from
the Consular records and from information
supplied through the courtesy of Messrs. W. J.
Towell & Coy.
Steamers.
The port was with the exception of one steamer
visited only by British Ships. The B. I. S. N.
Company mail steamer did not visit the port
regularly owing to •.
59 steamers entered the port during the far under
report, representing a total tonnage of 180,39b.
83 vessels cleared the port representing a tonnage
of 85 706-25. 138 Sailing vessels representing a
tonnage of 174 , 16-60 entered the port, 108 sailing
vessels representing a tonnage of Id.SHDSU
cleared the port.
The statement below gives the rate of
freight £
Dry dates to India . . 2 per ton.
Wet dates to India • • 1“10 »* »»
Dry fish to India . • 1 »> »»
Fresh fruits to India . . 2-16 „ „
Dried limes to Persian Gulf . 4 „ „
General.
The return of imports and exports are based on
the figures compiled from the actual steamer
manifests, access to which has already been given
By the courtsev of Messrs. W. J. Towell & Co.,
local agents fo'r most of the shipping companies
vessels calling at Muscat. No figures are avail
able from the Customs at present. Figures for
sailing craft entering Muscat and Muttra are
compiled from the Consular records.
No records are available for the large trade of
Sur which possesses some 80 trading dhows
voyaging to Basrah, India and the coast of Africa,
nor for the not inconsiderable trade of small
Batineh coast ports. Competent authority esti
mates the total trade of these ports as at least
half the trade of Muscat and Muttra.
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