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File 2830/1914 Pt 1 'Persian Gulf: Sponge Fisheries. Sponge Exploration Syndicate.' [‎99r] (202/488)

The record is made up of 1 volume (240 folios). It was created in 18 May 1905-11 Dec 1916. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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[Confidential.]
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No. 2717, dated Bush ire, the 24th November (received 4th December) 1906..M
From— Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
I have the honour to refer to paragraph 2 of Foreign Department letter
No. 3977,* dated 8th October 1906, on the subject of the Sponge Exploration
Syndicate’s operations. r
2 . "While the divers were in the Gulf I was at pains to keep myself in
formed as far as possible in regard to their movements, and in view of further
details since received, of which I append the purport, I feel sure that the
deputation of a Government vessel at this stage to enquire into their unobtru
sive operations would not result in the acquisition of any more complete or
scientifically valuable details than those which are now to hand.
3. In view of the uncertainty which at present attaches to the subject and
of the intrinsic importance of the Sponge fishing industry generally in the
view of the British Museum Authorities, I venture to hope that, when a con
venient juncture arises, the Government of India will entertain the precau
tionary measure of setting existing doubts at rest by means of organised scien
tific investigation.
Information furnished by one of the Malcolm family.
Owing to the excessively hot weather at Ormuz, the divers could only
work for about 18 hours during the time they were in those localities.
On their return to Bushire, they tried Kharag with no brilliant results.
I am, however, informed that there was much disagreement and bad blood
between Hatinoglou and Captain Demetri who was guiding the operations of
six Greek divers, and it is alleged that it was on account of this disagreement
that the diving operations proved a failure and the divers dilly dallied with
their work until the expiry of the period of their contract, when they insisted
upon leaving.
Captain Demetri was a Spongologist and he told me that there were many
places in the Gulf full of sponges, good, bad and indifferent qualities, of all
which he had gathered specimens. It was his opinion that he could enlarge
the fields of the good sorts by cultivation so as to be ready for harvesting in
three or four years’ time.
Hatinoo'lou himself was very sanguine of ultimate success and told me
that his object in going to Europe was to arrange with a Syndicate for return
ing with the best equipment for operations.
If one were to read between the lines, he was not quite sure of succeeding
in this latter project.
I know that Captain Botti of the had found a piece of
sponge on the beach at Abu Musa, a piece of which had ultimately reached
Hatino-lou’s bands and both he and the Spongologist pronounced this specimen
to be of the finest quality known, and this may tempt the Syndicate to renew
01)61 Burtbermore, I have recently received information that Messrs. Wonckhaus
& Co. of Lin'-'ah, etc., independently collected a quantity of sponges and sen
home about 35 cases of them to Germany for examination.
G. I. C. P. 0 .— No. 2920 F. D.—10-12*1906,—50.—J. N. S.

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Content

The volume concerns the attempts of a British company called the Sponge Exploration Syndicate to obtain concessions for the fishing and exploitation of sponges in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . However, the papers indicate that it was felt by British officials that the real object of the company was to exploit the Gulf's pearl banks, which entailed the risk of infringing Britain's treaty obligations with the Arab states.

The principal correspondents are the Foreign Office; Major Percy Zachariah Cox, acting as Consul-General for Fars, Khuzistan etc., and Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; officials of the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. and the Government of India; the Viceroy of India (the Earl of Minto); and the Sponge Exploration Syndicate Limited.

The papers include: letters of application for concession rights from the company; the granting of a concession to the company by the Government of Persia; the granting of a concession to the company by the Sultan of Muscat; a report by the British Museum, on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. as a possible area for successful sponge fisheries (folios 175-176); the involvement of the company with the rulers of the Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ; and the rights of British-protected Arabs. The volume also contains an Admiralty chart of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. on folio 50.

The French language content of the volume consists of an agreement on folios 129-131.

The date range gives the covering dates of the main items of correspondence. This is mainly dated 1905-09, with one item dated 1916. The correspondence also includes enclosures dated 1892 (folios 214-215).

Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, year the subject file was opened, subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence (folio 1).

Extent and format
1 volume (240 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

The subject 2830 ( Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. : Sponge and Pearl Fisheries) consists of two volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/456-457. The volumes are divided into two parts with each part comprising one volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 242; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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File 2830/1914 Pt 1 'Persian Gulf: Sponge Fisheries. Sponge Exploration Syndicate.' [‎99r] (202/488), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/456, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100038235551.0x000003> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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