'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the Year 1937' [‎27r] (53/72)

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Twelve more telephone lines were installed. A Transport Department
was started for dealing with Bahrain Government vehicles.
The Municipal ice plant operated during the summer and 286 tons of ice
were produced.
12. Education. —No changes of any importance took place during the
year.
The average attendance was about the same as last year.
As previously reported, boys continue to seek employment in the Oil
Company before completing their education.
The carpentry schools are doing good work.
Number of schools in existence on 1st January 1937
Number of schools opened during the year .
Schools closed during the year ....
Students on rolls on 1st January 1937
Students on rolls on 31st December 1937
Teachers on 1st January 1937 ....
Teachers on 31st December 1937....
13. Trade—{i) Pearling industry. —The 1937 pearl season showed a
great improvement on the previous season. The catch was better, and the
price improved. The pearls found were mostly small and the percentage of
seed and small pearls was higher than it has been for many years. As a
result of this improvement, the Tisqam (advances paid to divers and pullers)
was raised from Rs. 20 to Rs. 40. The number of pearling boats during the
year was 271 as compared with 264 during 1936.
(u) The total value of imports into Bahrain during 1937 amounted to
Rs. 6,31 ,200 as against Rs. 1,78,43,760 during the previous year and exports
during 1937 amounted to Rs. 17,25,720 as against Rs. 1,15,46,090 during
the year 1936.
(m) Cargo valued at Rs. 59,02,180 was transhipped at Bahrain for th©
mainland and other parts as compared with Rs. 64,71,640 during 1936.
14. Boat building and shipping.—{i) The number of launches plying for
hire at the end of the year was 58 as during last year.
[ii) Two hundred and seventy-one pearling craft were licensed during
the year as against 264 during last year.
{Hi) Four new motor launches were built during the year and sixteen
imported into Bahrain. Two old ones were brought into Bahrain from
elsewhere.
[iv) 193 British ships, 32 German, Japanese 20, Dutch 4, American 6
and 86 tankships entered and cleared the port of Bahrain during the year
as compared with 164 British, 17 German, 16 Japanese, 2 American, 1 Italian,
1 Norwegian, 2 Dutch and 41 tankships during the preceding year.
{v) On the 19th December a Bahrain Government launch on Quarantine
Service collided with another launch. It was damaged and was towed ashore.
There were no casualties.
15. Naval. —The French Sloop " d'Iberville " flying the Flag of Contre-
Amiral Fernet, Commandant, La Division Navale du Levant A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea. , arrived on
a visit to Bahrain on the 19th February. On the same afternoon a party
was given by 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. at the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. to the Admiral and several of
his officers.
On the 20th February formal calls were exchanged between the Politi
cal Agent and the Admiral and the Admiral and the Shaikh of Bahrain. That
evening a dinner party was held on board the " dTberville '.
On the 21st February a party of officers from the " d'Iberville " paid
a visit to the oilfields.
The " dTberville " sailed on the morning of the 22nd February.
16. Aviation.—{i) Flying boats and aeroplanes of the Royal Air Force
continued to fay frequent visits to Bahrain.
1
Nil.
1,063
1,113
40
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