'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1903-1904' [‎105v] (98/112)

Chap. V-
FITSTANCIA-L
RE VIE W.
Imported Sait.
Consumption,
Revenue and
expenditure.
Fish-curing yards.
Offences.
Compensation.
Chief events.
Sources of supply.
Production and
sales.
Imports and
consumption.
Fish-curing.
Revenue and
expenditure.
Offences.
74 BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT. " [laOS-l^
The average price rose at all places. In the Northern and Middle Konkan it was 3 antiag
11 pies, at Shiroda 5 annas 9 pies and at Sanikatta 4 annas 9 pies per maund.
4. The quantity of salt imported by land and sea rose slightly to 280,855 maunds, o{
this 267,281 mannds were Goa Salt against 264,897 mannds in the previous year. Practically
no Bombay salt is now despatched up-country vid Castle Rock, owing to the reduction in th e
rates of freight vid Poona.
5. The quantity of salt issued for local consumption increased slightly to
maunds, which gives an average per head of 10*50 lbs. as against one of 10*38 m the previoag
year. In Gujardt the average rose from 8*9 lbs. to 9*9 lbs., while in the rest of the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent.
it decreased from 10*9 lbs. to 10*7 lbs. The average market-price varied from Rs. 4-5-11 ij
Bombay to Rs. 2-9-0 at Ahmedabad. In places supplied with Baragra salt consumers benefited
by the reduction of 8 annas in the rate of duty, but in the Konkan the rate was higher than
in the previous year owing to the deficiency in the stocks of sea salt,
6. The total revenue, including Provincial receipts, fell by Rs. 52,91,938 to Rs. 1,80,47,694.
The reduction of the rate of duty from Rs. 2-8-0 to Rs. 2-0-0, which took effect from March 18^
1903, reduced the import duty on salt by land by Rs. 1,26,604. The same cause combined with
the reduction in the amount of salt issued reduced the excise duty on salt by Rs. 52,06,852,
The only other noticeable item under the head of revenue is an increase of Rs. 16,456 in the
proceeds of the sale of Baragra salt owing to larger sales. Expenditure increased by Rs. 16,784
to Rs. 17,05,841. No individual items call for remark.
7. The number of fish-curing yards increased by 2 to 29, 14 being in Ratnagiri anl
15 in Kanara. The fishing season was a good one and the quantity of fish cured rose from
113,806 maunds to 184,462 maunds, and that of salt issued from 36,941 to 56,414 maunds,
Removals of cured fish also rose from 87,832 to 142,040 maunds. The financial results showed
a net profit of Rs. 6,414 as against one of Rs. 2,173 in the previous year.
8. The number of offences against the Salt Law again fell to 710, i.e., 718 less than
in the previous year. There were 358 cases of clandestine removal of natural Salt, 246 in the
Northern Division and 112 in the Southern Division* Smuggling eases fell from 213 to 169
in number owing in a great measure to the re-alignment of the Daman Frontier. Thefts from
Salt works also fell from 30 to 26. The percentage of convictions was 95*4 as compared with
96*1 in 1902.
9. Compensation on account of awards of the mixed commission to the extent of Rs. 1,57a
was paid during the year.
10. The chief event of the year was the cyclone in May 1903, which not only destroyed
existing stocks but closed the manufacturing season by flooding the pans. There was some
danger of a salt famine. Permission was given to re-open disused pans and the minimum amount
of salt required to be stacked in a heap was reduced from 120 to 60 maunds. Depots for the
sale of Baragra salt, as mentioned in paragraph 2, were opened, but without any great success,
A fairly favourable manufacturing season has since replenished the stocks to some extent.
Other points of interest are the establishment of the Kathiawar Customs Frontier through
the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. of the Salt Department, and the re-alignment of the Daman Frontier, by which
the length to be patrolled was reduced to 19 miles.
Sind.
1. The sources of supply continued unchanged. The Maurypur Salt Works were as
usual by far the most important.
2. . The year opened with a balance of only 56,176 maunds in hand, owing to the
destruction of over 2 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of maunds at the Maurypur Works by the cyclone of June 1902,
Manufactures during the year rose by over 50,000 maunds to 349,575 maunds. Of this 275,911
maunds were removed, 12,432 maun’ds were supplied at cost price to His Highness the Mir of
Khairpur, and loss and wastage amounted to 5,201 maunds. There was thus a closing balance
of 111,518 maunds. Sales decreased by 1,044 mannds in spite of the reduction in duty. The
average wholesale price for Maurypur salt fell from Rs. 3-7-0 to Rs. 2-14-3, showing a
reduction of 9 pies, in addition to the reduction of 8 annas in duty.
3. Including 1,443 maunds of table and 11,282 maunds of rock salt imported by
private agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. from Europe and the Punjab, 287,626 maunds were consumed, giving an
average per head of population of 7*3/ lbs. against one of 7*39 lbs. in the previous year.
4. At the Shamspir yard 9/0 maunds of salt were issued at Re. 1 per maund for curing
4,614 maunds of fish against 1,205 for curing 9,295 maunds in the previous year.
5. The gross receipts from excise duty and other charges were Rs. 6,29,362 against
Rs. 7,79,608 in 1902-1903, the fall being due to the reduction in the duty. Expenditure was
Rs. 1,34,358 against Rs. 1,40,231.
6. The number of detected offences against the Salt Law fell from 202 to 128.
limit*
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