'File 10/4 IV Trade reports Bahrain Islands' [‎119r] (241/318)

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The Customs import tariff is fixed at Qjb ad Taloroa
on foodstuffs and cotton pisssgoods and 10% on othsr
articles such as sarpets, cycles, cloeks and watches,
electrieal goods furniture, franopkoneSy fold thread,
kosierj, motor ears, perfumery, toilet soaps, silken goods,
sewing machines, ruhbor tyres and takes, typewriters, boots,
shoes, playing eards etc# l&j* is paid on alcohol, tobacco
and ci^garettes* <
(•) Custom* aaUuiBl«tr>tiOD ana tfrlaour F»alliU«» .
The administration of tke Customs Department is in
the hands of a British Director of Customs appointed ky the
Bahrain Government*
The Customs house and Pier are situated in the centre
of the water front of lianama close to the main bazaar# The
pier, which has keen improred and extended at varioua times
during the last 20 years, is over 2000 feet long and extends
into water which has a sufficient depth to enakle large dhows
and launches to come alongside at all states of the tideo
The Pier is lit ky electricity and served by a tx^ollsy lime
giving connection with the import yard shed on the edge of
the bazaar# There is a five ton hand -operated crane
installed on the pier#
Cargo is stored in two large sheds, one on the pier,
the other at the edge of the bazaar*
steamers normally anchor between three and four miles
from the skore and are lightered ky sailing dkows ana motor
launches whieh meet every boat. Cargo is discharged ky
Messrs Gray Mackenzie anJ Company Limited t who are the local
agents for the British India ttteam Navigation Company Ltd#
(a) TftiPS
General Conditions*
Bahrain produces little except petro Iciob and pearls#
Its foo<, its clothing and the general necessities of life
are almost entirely isiported from abroad# In normal times
it flourishes, however, as an entrepot for trade, since the
major part of the trade of the eastern part of Saudi Arabia
passes through Bahrain* Owing to a general increase in
prises of upwards of 30^, figures of the value of trade for
the year under report were maintained at a kigh level,
despite an increase in the number of restrictions placed
on exports in the countries which are the main sources of
supply lor Bahrain# Complete figures of the value of
exports are not availakle in the ease either of petroleum <
or of pearls, as these are not dutiable and records of
their values are therefore not kept ky the Bahrein Customs#
In the former caso, however, figures of the quantities
exported are available and are shown In the Tables
accompsmyin^: this Heport* In the latter case, the figure of
exports shown in the Tables represents only exports ky air
freight steamer freight, which are not estimated to
exceed 305fc of total exports# Pearls are normally taken out
of Bahrain ky merchants or their agents in person, and no
roeord is kept of T >earls exported from the Island in this
way*