'File 27/4 Miscellaneous Trade Reports' [‎70v] (145/702)

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pearls, and at the same time obtain telegraphic
orders from them for payment to their head offices
in Bombay or Karachi.
Towards the end of November 1917 there was
a glut in the piece-goods, coffee, wheat and rice
partly in consequence of the overstocked market
and partly due to absence of the usual visits of
the overland merchants and caravans at this time
of the year. In January 1918, however, Kuwait
merchants called here and large stocks of food
stuffs were shipped to Kuwait. The restrictions
in Kuwait soon put a stop to this outlet, and the
merchants found themselves with a large stock of
goods, particularly piece-goods and rice at the end
of the official year.
OPENING FOR BRITISH TRADE.
The trade of the Bahrain Islands is to a large
extent in the bands of Hindu and Indian
Muhammadan merchants, who have had business
connections with the Islands for over a century,
and far the greater portion of the trade is with
India. Messrs. Gray, Paul and Company, the
Agent of the' British India Steam Navigation
Company, Limited, is the only British firm.
CUSTOMS.
The tariff is fixed by treaty at 5 per cent
‘Ad valorem^ on all imports, including transhipment
cargo, and at the present time the Customs , work
is being carried on for the Ruler of Bahrain by an
Indian (Hindu) firm, a member of which acts ns
Director. Export duty of RIO per bundle of
hides and R *2 per bundle of dates is charged.
ENQUIRIES REGARDING TRADE.
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. will be very glad to
answer any enquiries regarding trade,from British
firms in any part of the Empire. Such enquiries
should be sent through the Commercial Intelli
gence Branch of the Board of Trade, London, or j
the Director General of Commercial Intelligence,
(Calcutta, as may be more convenient. Time
would probably be saved by addressing the latter
official direct, as information on most ordinary
subjects is available in his records.
SHIPPING AND COMMUNICATION.
Shipping has continued to be upset by the war,
owine: to so many British India and other
Companies ships having been taken off the run,
consequently the regular mail service had to be
abandoned. A Hired Transport with mails has
called here once a month from May 1917.
Only 27 merchant vessels entered the port, as
compared with 4() in 1916-17 and a normal number
of 86 . Calls have been made as follows :—
Name of line.
Calls on
Up voyage.
Down voyage.
The I’ritish India Steam
Navigation Company,
Limited.
19
7
The Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Steam
Navigation Company,
Limited.
6
1
The Abad Line, Limited
3
1
Freights varied from £3 to £5-10 per ton to
India (Bombay or Karachi) as compared with
£2-10 per ton in 1916-17.
GENERAL REMARKS ON TRADE.
The pearl trade of necessity dominates the
whole commercial situation. The following
tables show the movements of general merchan
dise as compared with pearls and specie :—
Imports.
Year.
Specie.
Pearls.
Total of
specie
and
pearls.
General
merchan
dise.
Total
Imports.
£
£
£
19I6-17
497,233
103,899
601,132
919,802
1,629,768
; 1917-18
268,899
152,100
410,999
1.196,050
1,607,049
Percent ge of In
crease or decrease
ou p evious year.
—17-93
+46-39
—31-62
+ 3-0J
+ f05
exports.
Year.
Specie.
Pearls.
Total of
Specie
and
pearls.
General
merchan
dise.
Total
Ex pox ts.
£
£
£
1916-17 .
126,760
364,400
490,160
289,783
779,943
1917-18 .
6,166
317,002
323,168
494,086
817,248
Percentage of In
crease or decrease
on previous year.
—96-88
-12 73
—34-07
+ 7-60
+ 478
IMPOR rs.
The total value of imports into Bahrain
: amounted to £1,607,019 as compared with
I £1,529,758 in 1916-17 showing an increase of
j of £77,291 or 5 05 per cent. The increase is
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