'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the Year 1938' [‎23r] (45/60)

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13. Pearling Industry. —1938 was a bad season, there was a decline in
prices and a poor catch. Tisqam (advances paid to divers and pullers) was
reduced from Rs. 40 to Rs. 20 for a diver and Rs. 15 for a puller. No protest
on this account was made by divers. Merchants and Nakhudas declared
at the usual meeting that if Tisqam was higher they would be compelled to
release the divers on " Barwa " without maldng any advances. The number
of pearling boats during the year was 252 compared with 271 in 1937.
14. Trade—
1937. 1938.
Ra. Rs.
Imports .... ... 6,31,200 24,68,890
Exports 17,25,720 22,07,190
Transhipped at Bahrain ..... 69,02,180 1,23,81,164
15. Boat building and shipping.— (i) Shipping—
1937.
1938.
British .....
193
221
German ....
32
27
Japanese ....
20
20
Dutch .....
4
12
Amerioan ....
6
8
Italian ....
Nil
1
Tankships ....
86
78
(n) The number of launches plying for hire at the end of the year was 79
\s against 58 during 1937.
{in) The California Arabia Standard Oil Company's launch " Calarabia "
on July the 6th while en route from A1 Khobar to Manama caught fire, ex
ploded and sank. Mr. and Mrs. Herring and two Arab crew lost their lives.
The American mechanic and two of. the crew were picked up in an exhausted
condition having been in the water for nearly 24 hours.
16. Naval. —The Japanese Naval tanker " Sata" visited Bahrain
from 7th to 13th February 1938. This visit caused considerable local
excitement and apprehension.
Calls were exchanged between the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. and the Captain.
17. Aviation.—{i) Squadron Leader K. R. Coates, R.A.F., was Air
Liaison Officer, Bahrain, throughout the year.
A new house and offices for the Air Liaison Officer is under construction
near the Imperial Airways' pier at Qodhaibia.
(n) The agreement of the Shaikh to the location of a Royal Air Force
flight at Bahrain was obtained.
{Hi) Imperial Airways increased their services to five east and west
bound weekly.
18. British Interests. —(i) Mr. J. M. Campbell held charge of the Bahrain
branch of Messrs. Gray, Mackenzie and Company, Limited throughout the
year.
Mr. G. W. R. Smith returned to Bahrain in the autumn in connection
with the Company's projected agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Ras Tanura.
(u) Mr. C. W. F. Skrimshire held charge of the Eastern Bank, Bahrain#
from the beginning of the year till the 20th August 1938 when he was relieved
by Mr. M. A. Gunn who held charge till the end of the year.
{Hi) Khan Sahib Yusuf bin Ahmad Kanoo, C.I.E., has been the local
agent of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company throughout the year.
{iv) Mr. N. L. Penfold held charge of the office of the Bahrain Branch of
Cable and Wireless Limited throughout the year.