File 1407/1918 'Kowait Trade Reports. (1911-1930)' [‎238r] (480/746)

REPORT
ON THE
TRADE OF KUWAIT
for the year 1917-18 (1st April 1917 to 31st March 1918)
BY
Captain D. V. McCOLLUM.
INTRODUCTION.
Kuwait is a principality on the Arabian side
of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , 50 miles from the mouth of
the Shatt-al-Arab and 138 miles by sea and 100
miles by land from Basrah. The population,
which is estimated to be over 50,000, is larger
than any other port on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Kuwait
is also an entrepot of goods for Nejd and some of
the important towns of Central Arabia and in a
lesser degree for IVlashur, Hindiyan, and other
neighbouring minor ports on the Persian Coast.
Its trade is not therefore influenced by local
conditions only, but also by climatic and economic
conditions of those countries and by the safety of
the caravan routes to the interior.
The disadvantages of shortage of tonnage,
high rates of freight, etc., referred to in the report
for 1916-17 continued throughout the year under
review. In spite of this, and cjuite contrary to
expectations, there has been a large increase in
trade and the statistics which are compiled from
the manifest books of the Shipping Companies for
the Steamer Traffic and those supplied by the
Shaikh's Customs for the Native Craft Traffic
show that the total trade amounted to the unprece
dented figure of £1 ,d 33, 161 as against £624,
243 for 1916-17 showing a net increase of £^08,
918 or 145.60 per cent. This large increase is
due no doubt to some extent to the advance of
price of almost every commodity but mainly to
wild speculation on the part of the local mer
chants who imported certain goods much in excess
of local or usual requirements. Some of these, it
was found, were finding their way, m increasing
quantities, to the blockaded parts of Central
Arabia and the Hedjaz. At the end of the year
71 F. *T.J.
it was therefore decided to prohibit the import
into Kuwait of all kinds of goods without permit
from the Blockade Officer stationed at Kuwait or
from 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. . This step was taken
as a last resort and after all efforts on the part of
the local authorities had failed to check the
activities of blockade runners.
The trade of the port in the ensuing year will
therefore receive a set-back but for this nobody is
to be blamed but the local people themselves.
The pearl fishery, the chief source of income
of about half the people of Kuwait, was a success
ful one. The catch was good and the prices
realized were better than those of the last few
years. But only about one-third of the Kuwait
boats participated in the fishery, the reason for
this shortage being that pearlers from Nejd and
Basrah districts did not join their boats having
fourd more lucrative employment elsewhere.
IMPORTS-EXPORTS.
These amounted to £ 1 , 269, 716 and £263,
445 , respectively, the former showing an increase
; of £798,003 and the latter of £110,915 as
j compared with that for 1916-1/. 78.20 per cent,
i of this trade is carried on with India and the chief
1 articles which have contributed towards the
! increase a.e barley, coffee, rice, piece-goods, tea,
I wheat and wood for building boats in the imports
1 and chandals, ghee, rice, tea, and wheat in the
! exports.
FREIGHTS, SHIPPING & NAVIGATION.
The B.I.S.N. Company's steamers called at
Kuwait fortnightly during the year on their