'Lord Curzon's Notes on Persia: About 1889-1890' [‎563r] (1146/1486)

No. 591.
Reference to previous Report, Annual Scries No. 367.
PERSIA.
BUSHIRE.
Consul-General Ross to the Marquis of Salisbury.
My Lord, Bushire, Bine 13, 1889.
I HAVE the honour to submit a Report on the Trade of this
Consular District for the Year 1888.
I have, &p.
(Signed) C^ROSS.
Report on the Trade of South Persia and Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. for the
Year 1888.
The hopes of an abundant harvest, entertained at the early
part of 1888, were realised; and, on the whole, there was an un
doubted improvement observable in trade at the Persian ports.
Produce.
Large shipments of wheat and barley were made up to Grain.
October, when the Persian Government reimposed an embargo
which, however, was imperfectly maintained. The Persian wheat
raised was of good quality, but the quantity of barley mixed with
it before reaching the market was often excessive, amounting in
some cases to 50 per cent. The export trade in wheat was un
usually profitable, owing to a certain degree of failure of English
and European crops, which caused a rapid advance of prices in the
home markets, 10 to 13 per quarter. As this rise was more
slowly felt in Persian markets, early shipments realised handsome
profits. Wheat was chiefly shipped to London, but a portion
went to India and the Red Sea. The English and other mer
chants of Bushire, engaged in the grain exportation trade, consider
that the imposition of embargo in October was unnecessary, and
complain that this measure unduly crippled and hampered trade
generally, to the advantage of the few who evaded the prohibition
or reaped a profit therefrom in other ways. This alleged evil, of
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