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File 2830/1914 Pt 2 'Persian Gulf: Pearl Fisheries. Investigation into Alleged Depletion of Pearl Banks. Germans and the Industry. Concessions, etc.' [‎6v] (21/578)

The record is made up of 1 volume (283 folios). It was created in 1902-28 July 1914. 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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No. 373, dated Bushire, the 16th June 1857.
From—C ommander Felix Jones, I.N., 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. Field Force, Civil Com
missioner and Resident, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
•H. L. Anderson, Esq., Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. .
With reference to the subject of your latter No. 2003, and its enclosure, I
have the honour to state for the information of the Right Honourable His Lord-
ship in Council that I do not conceive British subjects have any right to fish for
pearls on the fishing grounds of the Maritime tribes in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
2. By sufferance they might indeed be permitted to do so. It would how
ever I think necessitate stipulations and agreements between parties, which on
the Arab part, would be broken at all times, unless indeed the British Govern
ment is prepared to maintain a permanent force on the fishing grounds in the
event of the project being carried out on an extended scale. I am of opinion too
that British capitalists would not be able to compete with the Banyans and other
native traders now monopolizing the fisheries in their own hands, and it is certain
that plunder, if not blood shed, would result to inexperienced parties at the
outset of operations in this sea. We have examples of the contentions on coasts
inhabited by civilized people in regard to fisheries, and I need hardly point out
that, if pursued amongst tribes always at feud with each other, grave difficulties
must arise which may call for our armed interference at all times.
3. Should however any enterprizing European be desirous of experimenting
upon the profits or otherwise, of this trade, I shall be ready to afford him everv
assistance in my power, though I would hardly recommend him to embark upon
so precarious a speculation. r
C 91 FD~ 44 - 8 . 3 - 13 -GCBP Simla
No. 3178, dated Bombay Castle, the 8th July 1857.
From—H. L. Anderson, Esq., Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. ,
To— Commander Felix Jones, I.N., Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
] A ^ re ? ted tJie Honourable the Governor in Council, to acknow-
ledge the receipt of your letter No 373, dated the ,6th June last, submitting
m TL 0 nl n Tfi r K atlVe r t< l th D m ® Xped ' enCy of allowin g British subjects to engage
in the pearl fishery of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . ^ ^
GovemoHnTonitr e<J t0 inforn \ you - that - the Ri g ht Honourable the
you Z L TTn t w'w rT m r he 'V i udicious views ^pressed by ’
™ V . W * Watson have been informed that Government cannot
sanction the operations contemplated by them in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
^ofS
/

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Content

The volume concerns pearl fishing in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; in particular attempted incursions into the trade by the French, Germans, and others; the political and economic interests of the British in pearl fishing; investigations into reports of the depletion of the pearl fishing banks in the Gulf; and proposals to use modern diving apparatus.

The principal correspondents are the 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. (Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Zachariah Cox); 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. , Bahrain; and senior officials of the Government of India, 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. , the Foreign Office, and the Board of Trade.

The papers cover: Report on the Ceylon Pearl Fisheries , published 1902 (including extracts of documents from the 1850s onwards), which includes references to the presence of Arab divers at the Ceylon fisheries (folios 247-281); the presence of two French businessmen in Bahrein [Bahrain], and the question of whether European enterprise could be excluded from the pearl fishing industry on the Arabian coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , March 1904 (folios 212-246); the opinion of the Law Officers' Department that the tribes of the Arabian coast had a right to the exclusive use of the pearl fisheries within a three-mile limit, and any other waters that might justly be considered territorial, February 1905 (folios 203-211); German attempts to gain control over the pearl industry in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , including the importance attached by the 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. (Cox) to the operations of Gray, Paul & Company, March 1905 - January 1908 (folios 177-202); the Government of India in favour of direct intervention to secure a British monopoly, June-August 1908 (folios 170-176); enquiries into the pearl fishing industry by Dr Gustav Josef Eduard Levien of Hamburg, April-May 1910 (folios 150-169); papers concerning the alleged depletion of the pearl banks, December 1910 - May 1911 (folios 106-149); further French interest in the pearl fisheries, February-May 1911 (folios 82-105, 66-69); official encouragement for British firms to enter the pearl trade, March-May 1911 (folios 69-81); a proposed investigation into depletion of the pearl banks by James Hornell of the Madras Fisheries Department, June-September 1911 (folios 56-65), and the investigation postponed, February 1912 (folios 42-53); assurances by the rulers of the Arab littoral states that they would not grant concessions to countries other than Britain, November 1911 (folios 54-55), and the texts of the rulers' replies, July-August 1911 (folios 32-41); papers concerning an application to use modern, 'scientific' diving apparatus in the Gulf by Muhammad bin Abdul Wahab Mishari, a director of the Arab Steamship Company in Bombay, and a rumour (denied) of similar interest from the Sultan of Oman, April-November 1912 (folios 11-31); copies of official correspondence from 1857 showing that British officials thought that British subjects did not have any right to fish for pearls on the fishing grounds of the maritime tribes in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , March 1913 (folios 5-6); and American (United States) interest in scientific aspects of the pearl industry in Bahrain, June 1914 (folios 2-4).

The volume includes two Admiralty charts illustrating the pearl fisheries of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , on folio 238 (= IOR/W/L/PS/10/457 (i) and IOR/L/PS/10/457 (ii)), and a map accompanying the report on the Ceylon Pearl Fisheries (folio 278).

The French language content of the file is confined to a single letter (folio 91).

The date range gives the covering dates of the main run of papers (which include extracts of documents from the 1850s onwards), and any other additions to the volume; the Secret Department minute papers enclosing groups of papers are dated 1904-1914.

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 (283 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 (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 281; 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. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.

A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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File 2830/1914 Pt 2 'Persian Gulf: Pearl Fisheries. Investigation into Alleged Depletion of Pearl Banks. Germans and the Industry. Concessions, etc.' [‎6v] (21/578), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/457, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100044914343.0x000016> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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