'REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1907-1908' [‎15v] (29/137)

Sind.
xv iii BOMBAY ADMINISTRATION REPORT. [1907-1908.
increase in the consumption of Kerosine Oil, Eoumanian and American Oil
taking to a large extent the place formerly occupied by Russian. The export
trade of Bombay as a centre of distribution of foreign merchandise to the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and East Africa was in a more satisfactory condition than in
any year of the previous decade. Articles Manufactured and Partly Manufac
tured, which form the bulk of the re-exports, advanced in value 16 per cent.
On the other hand in the case of exports of Indian merchandise, there was a
fall of 9 per cent, under this head. This was due entirely to a further decline of
2 ij crores in the shipments of Yam to China, owing to the glutted state of the
market, the fluctuations of the exchange, and the effects of famine in some of
the largest consuming districts. Satisfactory features of the Yarn trade were
the development of the local weaving industry and the discovery of new outlets
for the trade in European markets. The net increase of 3 crores in the exports
of Indian merchandise was contributed principally by Raw Cotton and Seeds,
but there were notable increases also under Manganese Ore and Opium, the
latter owing to easier prices of Malwa opium following on an unusually good
crop. Turning to the distribution of the foreign trade, the share of the British
Empire shows an improvement of over 5 crores or 13 per cent., but there was,
relatively, a still more remarkable improvement in the trade with continental
Europe, especially, Germany, Prance and Belgium, which shows an advance
of 4 crores or 17 per cent. The steady expansion of the Japanese trade is also
noteworthy. The land trade 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. increased in volume by 6 per
cent, and in value by nearly 8 per cent., the improvement being equally
marked in the external and the local trade. A decline in the value of the
external import trade was principally due to the contraction of imports of Cotton
and Food-grains, while the brisk demand for Pood-grains from Northern and
Central India contributed more than anything else to the expansion of exports.
The most noticeable improvements in the local trade were under Raw Cotton
Pood-grains, and Coal and Coke.
The total sea-borne trade of the province of Sind was valued at 42-
crores, or about £ 28^ millions, an advance of 9 per cent, on the record
figures of last year. Karachi absorbed the whole increase, the subordinate
ports suffering a decline in trade mainly owing to diminished exports of rice.
At the chief port imports advanced by over a crore Equivalent to ten million, or one hundred lakhs. Used especially in connection with money (rupees). and exports by over 2 crores.
The main heads of increase in imports were the same as in 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. ,
Manufactured Articles and Metals each showing a 9 per cent, rise, while
there were substantial improvements under Articles of Food and Drink Raw
Materials and Oils. The failure of the crops in North America and Europe
combined with higher prices, led to an increase of 18 per cent, in the value
of Wheat exported. Karachi has a monopoly of the Punjab produce, and Wheat
accounted for nearly half the total exports from the port. There were marked
increases also under Cotton and Rape Seed. The land trade with Afghanistan
Baluchistan and Persia exhibited a net improvement of 11 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees or 8 per cent *
though diminished imports from Afghanistan resulted in a falling off of 3 ner
cent, in the import trade. & ”
Aden.
The inland trade of Aden, which declined by 16 per cent, last year
showed a slight recovery of 6 per cent, in the year under report. On the other
hand, the falling off in the Indian trade was almost as marked as in 1906 1907
and this, together with a heavy decrease in the foreign trade also, reduced
the aggregate value by a erore of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. or 10 per cent. The diminished
trade in Skins and Hides, which carried with it a decline in the imports and
exports of Grey Piece-goods, was due to unfavourable markets in America and
Europe. The decreases under Grain and Pulse and Kerosine Oil were partly