‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎58v] (115/949)

I
' Memorandum prepared by Mr. Vice-Consul Sequeira, Bushire
(dated October 1903).
The amount of annual subvention granted by the Russian Government to the
Russian Steam Navigation and Trading Company is 21,000/., besides the re-imbursement
df the dues paid for passage through the Suez Canal. These concessions are granted in
consideration of the Company maintaining a regular steam service between Odessa and
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ports and Busreh. These concessions are for a period of 12 years
beginning in 1903, but the Imperial Order granting them does not specify the number
of sailings in a year which the Company is to perform to maintain a regular service. So
the exact meaning-of regular service appears to have been left for determination by the
Company according to the amount of cargo they might be able to secure to feed their
steamers running to the Gulf.
To judge from the arrivals*at Bushire since January last it seems that the number
of sailings from Odessa will not be more than four or five annually, for the present.
I have not been able to find out what the rate of freight from Odessa to Gulf ports
was at the start.f But the rate at present quoted is 20 copecks per poud, or, roughly
speaking, 26s. per ton of 20 cwts. It appears that at the beginning freight used to be
charged according to the measurement, that is, per ton of 40 cubic feet, which, in the
case of piece goods, used to be somewhat more than the freight by weight. So it can be
safely said that in the case of piece goods the rate of freight has been reduced to some
extent. Whether this reduction has increased Russian imports into the Gulf is a
question which cannot be answered in the affirmative. But, certainly, the reduction in
the rate of freight will tend to encourage Russian imports in course of time if a market
can be found for them. Hitherto, only one Russian (Moscow) firm has sent out piece
goods to any appreciable extent, this firm has its own agents in Shiraz and Ispahan.
The consignments hitherto brought out from Odessa, excepting piece goods, have been
very insignificant, consisting of loaf-sugar, glass and earthenware, lace, &c.
In 1901, the Russian steamers brought out about 20,000 cases of kerosine sent by
a Batoum firm, which had opened an agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. here. This agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. has since been closed,
the venture having proved a failure owing to competition.! The “ Trouver " in her
last voyage^ to the Gulf brought 20,000 cases of kerosine for this firm.
As regards the rate of freight from Bushire to Odessa, it used to be 40s. minimum
and 485'. maximum per ton of 40 cubic feet, but this has now been reduced to 32 copecks
per poud, or about 415. per ton of 20 cwts. This reduction in the case of country
packed cotton bales becomes very considerable. Sixteen of these bales go to a ton of
2o cwts., whereas by measurement they give about 5 tons of 40 cubic feet. So the
freight on the country packed cotton bales may be said to have been reduced from 200s.
to 414’. It is this article which has specially supplied some little return freight to the
Russian steamers. In all about r,ooo bales of cotton have been shipped to Odessa for
the Moscow firm alluded to above by their Ispahan and Shiraz agencies. Another
article which has contributed towards the return freight is tobacco shipped for Port said
for the Societe des Tombac, and it is reported that some negotiations are going on for the
carriage of all the tobacco for the Societe by the Russian steamers, but that no definite
arrangement has yet been come to, as the Societe is wanting to have monthly shipments,
which the Russian Steamship Company is not in a position to arrage for at the present.
From further inquiry I find that the Societe proposes to-issue tenders in Bushire when
ever they have tobacco for shipment. It is also reported that the Russian Company
is trying to compete with the existing British lines for the carriage of shells, but as the
bulk of the Gulf shells are exported to Hamburg and the Russian line has no direct
steamers running to that port, the shippers are not likely to avail themselves of the
Russian line, which can only undertake the carriage by means of transhipment at Port
Said, and it is said that shells suffer much by transhipment.
As regards the so-called museums, none have as yet been opened at Bushire, but
samples are shown when wanted. I hear that the samples will be shortly displayed.
•“Trouver, ” 24th January; “ Trouver23 rd May; “ Korniloff,” 13th July; “ Trouver, ”
29th August. According to the notice issued in the “ Odessky Listok,” of 17th May 1903, the
“ Trouver” is expected to sail from Odessa on the 17th October 1903. So the total number of sailings
during the present year will be five.
t Odessa Consul quoted 26s. 3^. to 29s. 3<f. per long ton, for cotton goods in January 1903.
! By a British Indian firm long established in this business.
29th August 1903.