'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1865 to December 1867. (Edited by the Honorary Secretary.) Volume XVIII.' [‎32] (167/268)

^ FT ][{ REMARKS on the PEARL OYSTER BEDS in
' THE PERSIAN GULP. By Lieut. Col. Lewis Pelly, Her
Britannic Majesty’s 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. , Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Con.
tributed by Government.
Read before the Society, February 16th, 1866.
While recently on leave of absence in England several gentlemen in
the scientific world requested information from me concerning the
Pearl Oysters, and concerning the shells in general ot the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
2. I gathered from Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys (an eminent Conchologist,
and author of the best standard works on the mollusca of the British
seas) that in a conchological point of view the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. is wholly
unexplored.
3. I am collecting, to tlie best of my ability, the shells Ox the Gulf,
and in the mean time I have the honour to submit a few remarks con
cerning the Pearl Oyster Beds. These beds extend at intervals almost
along the entire length of the Arabian Coast of the Gulf from a little
below the port of Koweit to the northward, down to the neighbour
hood of Rass-ool-Khaimah, southward. There are also some beds near
Karrack and at other points on the Persian Coast line, but these latter
are of comparatively little account as being far less extensive, less pro
lific, and less lucrative.
4. The beds along the Arabian Coast are held to be the property
of the Arabs in common ; for instance, an Arab of Koweit may dive
along the Bahrein or Rass-ool-Khaimah Coast and vice versa. But no
person other than the Coast Arabs is considered to have any right of
diving. And it is probable that any intrusion on the part of foreigners
would create a general ferment along the Coast line.
5. The richest banks are those of the islands of Bahrein. They are
found at all depths from a little below high water mark down to 3, 7 ?
12, 17, and 18 fathoms. It is probable that there are beds at a inucli
greater depth, for instance, if, as is supposed, it be the fact that there
are beds in the inlets of the Mussendum promontory, these beds must
have a depth of 22 or 25 fathoms* It is held as a rule that the lustre