‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎39r] (76/949)

PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OT COMMERCE.
43
Number in
Table of
Statistics.
3 °. 5 6
Textiles:—Silk—Raw, Waste, Cocoons.
The silk-worm is now extensively reared in Ghilan and
Mazanderan.
The industry in this region is of ancient date, but disease
appeared some 30 years ago and almost ruined it. The last ten
years have brought renewed prosperity, and the export of cocoons
from Resht is to-day a very important trade.
The following figures of the export of cocoons from Resht are
taken from the Consular Report (Resht, Annual Series, No. 3,109)
for 1902 :—
Lbs. Krs. Krs.
1893.
1895.
1897,
1899,
1900,
I 9 0I >
1902,
76.160, value 18 to 19 per Shah man, £
1 fresh = 6,475
14 » *5 >> >!
14,, 16 ,, ,,
average 22J „ „
ii 20 a >> >>
.. l8 ||
235 > 7 6 °.
046,080,
1,178,688,
1,615,488,
1,112,338,
2,365-896,
24
= 15,000
= 23,550
= 112,350
= 150,265
= 93,548
= 247,502
lyoz, „ ,,
1 he import of silk-worm eggs has risen from a value 01 2,200/.
in 1894 to 36,478/. (lbs. 14,566) in 1902-03 ; they are brought
from Asia Minor, French eggs not proving a success.
Formerly hand-reeled and waste silk were largely exported to
Constantinople and Marseilles ; now the export trade is almost
entirely in cocoons to Marseilles and Milan. Steam reeling works
have been fitted up recently by a Persian . merchant, and are
reported to have succeeded, the silk commanding Broussa prices.
The foregoing remarks are taken from the Consular Report above
referred to, which contains much information on the subject.
The average price for cocoons in I 9°3 ^ as been krs. 33 per
Shah man (13 lbs.), fresh. About 3 mans of fresh cocoons are
equal to 1 man, dried. The cost of drying, sorting, cleaning, and
packing is canvas bags may amount to about krs. 2 per man. .
In consequence of the high prices offered this year it is
reported that almost the whole production of cocoons has been
exported, amounting to over 23,000 bales, or 1,500,000 kilos.
In addition to the export trade there is a large consumption
of reeled and waste silk in the country ; perhaps one-half of the
production in ordinary years is forwarded to Tabriz, Kashan,
Ispahan, Yezd, Kerman, Meshed, and vid Kermanshah to Bagdad.
There is also a considerable manufacture of coarse silk tissues in
G The Tabriz merchants formerly took a large sha-e in the Resht
export trade, but they are now cut out by the firms working on
the spot and exporting via Batoum, There is still a consumption
of Resht silk for carpet weaving, embroideries, &c.
The exports from Kermanshah are chiefly spun silk and
waste silk for the Bagdad market, where many silk and mixed
tissues, embroideries, &c., are produced. . ,
Ispahan and Sultanabad import silk for the carpet industry ,
Kerman for carpets and silk tissues of many sorts, kerchiefs,
sashes, cloaks (abbas), and brocades Kashan has long been
famous for its varied silk tissues, from handkerchiefs to velvets,
brocades, and carpets. . , . ... . .1
In the Yezd, Kashan, and Urmiah districts silk is cultivated,
but in much smaller quantities than required for local con-
SU Khorassan grows silk, particularly_ in the neighbourhood
of Turbat, but not sufficient for the weaving industries, and much
is imported from Resht.
vJ 2