'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1904-1905' [‎163r] (101/116)

SALT.
77
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orted into tlis Bonjf
im Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Ban:';
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19J4 1905J
2. The balance of Baragra Salt was 4,163,204 maunds and the produce 2,150,882 maunds,
making a total of 6,314,086 maunds. Removals amounted to 2,315,496 maunds against
2 , 270,210 last year, the increase being due to the reduction in the rate of duty. There was an
increase in the removals for local consumption to all places except Cambay and Bombay. Barcda's
decreased consumption of Dharasna salt more than counterbalanced its increased consumption
of Baragra Salt. The rules for the prevention of illicit dealing in salt having been accepted by
His Highness the Gdekwar, a steady increase in the consumption of licit salt is expected in
Baroda territory. The loss and wastage written off in the accounts amounted to 228,460 maunds;
one heap alone accounting for a loss of 163,371 maunds. The percentage of loss and wastage
rose from 1*04 to 3*61. The amount in stock at Khdrdghoda at the end of the year was
3,770,128 maunds, which with the produce of the present year, 12,545,521 maunds, gives a total
stock of 6,315,649 maunds. The cost price remained stationary at Re. 0-1-3 per Indian
maund. The amount paid to the Agrias at this rate was Rs. 1,88,925 on 2,418,245 maunds
which gives an average of Rs. 157 per man for a working season of six months. Sales at the
agencies and Ahmedabad depot show a gain of Rs. 308 as compared with a loss of Rs. 518
last year Transactions on the whole, including the sales at the Main Stores, show a net gain of
Rs. 19,189 as against a gain of Rs. 18,121 in the previous year.
3. The quantity of salt manufactured during the year was 9,133,030 maunds against
5,861,688 maunds in the previous year, when vast quantities were washed away in a cyclone.
Removals amounted to 7,651,541 maunds, an increase of 1,191,785 maunds as compared with
last year. The closing balance increased from 205,010 maunds to 1,172,885 maunds. At
Dharasna, the opening balance was 106,084 maunds and the quantity manufactured was
338 613 maunds. Removals totalled 311,475 maunds. In other salt works, private and leased,
there was an increase in production of 3,154,159 maunds. Issues amounted to 7,343,066 maunds
and the closing balance was 1,077,608 maunds against 98,926 in the previous year. There was
an increase of 1,063,438 maunds in the removals from salt works near Bombay for consumption
within and without 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. exclusive of Foreign Malabar which took 131,943 maunds
of nominal duty salt. The net increase was thus 1,195,381 maunds. There was a general
increase in issues. The issues from Umbargaon, Shiroda and Sanikatta showed only slight
variations. The percentage of loss and wastage at Dharasna was 8*5 against 4*9 last year and
at other sea salt works 5*3 against 7*09 in the previous year.
4. The quantity of Goa salt imported during the year was 280,358 maunds against
267,281 maunds in the previous year, the increase being due, partly to a better crop of salt at
Goa, and partly to the facilities afforded by the Southern Mar^tha Railway. The greater part
of the salt imported was consigned to Belgaum, Dharwar, Bijapur and Madras. No duty-paid
Bombay through salt was imported at Castle Rock during the year.
5. The total quantity of salt issued for local consumption was 2,978,068 maunds, giving
an average of 1P68 lbs. per head against 10*50 lbs. in the previous year. The average in
Gujardt was 10*60 lbs. as against 9*9 lbs. per head last year. The average per head for 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. works out to 12*11 lbs. against 10'7 lbs. per head in the previous year.
The average market price of salt varied from Rs. 4-3-0 in Bombay to Rs. 2-7 0 in Ahmedabad
as against Rs. 4-5-11 and Rs. 2-9-0 for the same places last year. With the exception of Surat,
the whole of Gujarat has benefited to the full extent of the reduction of 8 annas in the duty.
Prices are still unnaturally high in the Konkan districts owing to lack of facilities for transport.
The Deccan districts have not benefited to any great extent but no satisfactory explanation
can be given.
6. The total salt revenue increased by Rs. 11,25,559 to Rs. 1,91,73,253. The increase
is almost entirely due to duty realized from the brisk sales of salt following the destruction of
stocks by the cyclone in May 1903. This accounts for Rs. 10,26,326 of the increase. Expen
diture increased by Rs. 32,561 to Rs. 17,.38,403.
7. The number of fish-curing yards remained constant at 29. The total quantity of fish
cured rose from 184,462 to 228,947 maunds and the quantity of salt issued from 56,414
maunds to 68,873 maunds. Removals of cured fish rose from. 142,040 maunds to 176,074 maunds.
Ihe financial results show a net profit of Rs. 9,375 against Rs. 6,414 in the previous year.
8. The total number of cases of offences against the salt law detected rose from 710 to
D259. Out of these, 546 were of clandestine removal of natural salt. Cases of smuggling
across the frontier rose from 169 to 205, of which 185 were on the Goa Frontier. Smuggling
on the Daman Frontier has almost entirely ceased, there being only 13 eases as against 60 cases
two years ago. The percentage of convictions rose from 95*4 to 96*9.
9* No payments were made on account of awards of the mixed commission owing to
non-submission of claim by persons entitled.
10. The Government salt works at Matunga and Bassein were leased for a period of one
year for a sum of Rs. 30,600 and Rs. 27,151 respectively against Rs. 26,651 and Rs. 26,126
m the previous year. The high prices realised were due to speculation encouraged by the high
price of salt.
even k the year was the reduction of the salt duty from Rs. 2 to Rs. 1-8-0.
-i-he reduction has led to an all-round increase in consumption. In Gujarat the consumer has
obtained the full benefit of the reduction 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. , the amount of the
b 780—20
Chapo V,
FINANCIAL
REVIEW.
Baragra salt.
Sea salt.
Imported salt.
Consumption*
Revenue and
expenditure.
Fisli-curing yards.
Offences.
Compensation,
Farms.
Chie f events.