‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1919-20’ [‎291r] (129/192)

1919-1920.]
TEADE.
Chapter IV.
PRODUCTION
AND
DISTRIBUTION.
3. The total imports and exports increased, respectively, by ^67 701 and t
£78,272. Gold decreased in imports by £28,187 in sovereigns and by £22 in r3a&Ure ’
other coined gold. There were no transactions in gold exports for the past
two years. Silver increased in imports by £13,586 in Government rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. and
by £82,324 in M. T. Dollars. In exports Government rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. increased bv
£7,488, and in M. T. Dollars, chiefly, by £70,784. Y
4. The total sea-borne trade, exclusive of treasure, amounted to Distribution.
£12,873,165. The British Empire exhibits the highest total, the value being
£5,743,710 with a percentage of 44*62, of which India’s share was £3,058,060
Africa occupies the second position with a total of £2,936,530, the United
States of America takes Asia’s position here with a total of £1,941,270, and
Asia follows with £1,748,420 ; the last being Europe with a total’of £503,230.
The increase of the British Empire in the trade of Aden was due to exports to
the United Kingdom, chiefly in hides and shins, raw, shells, wax, etc., and in
large exports to British Somaliland and India. Imports decreased from Natal
(coal), the United Kingdom {cotton twist and piece goods), British Somali
land (animals, hides raw and ghee), and India (co^on twist; piece goods,
spices, etc.) Africa increased from £2,678,200 to £2,936,530, chiefly in imports
of hides and shins raw, from Italian East Africa, Djibouti, and Independent
Somali Ports. Exports decreased to Massowah, Italian East Africa, and
Djibouti in cottons, etc. The United States of America increased from
£327,240 to £1,941,270 in imports as well as exports. Imports increased in
oil herosene and benzene and cottons; and exports in hides and shins raw
especially. Asia increased from £1,050,420 to £1,748,420 in imports as well as
exports, chiefly from Mascut, Bed Sea and Arabian Gulf ports. Free dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean.
traffic with the Bed Sea ports during the year increased imports and exports to
a great extent. Europe increased from £228,910 to £503,230 in imports and
particularly in exports of coffee, gums and hides and shins, raw.
5. The number of vessels, steam and sailing, entering the port during the shipping,
year increased from 500 to 1,066, and the tonnage from 950,141 to 2,736,839
or an increase of 566 vessels and 1,786,698 tons. The number of British ships
rose from 323 to 642 and that of British Indian from 13 to 84. The number
of Japanese ships increased from 69 to 146 ; French ships from 10 to 22 and
Italian from 24 to 81. The number of native craft entering the port increased
from 564 to 883, and the aggregate tonnage from 22,517 to 36,569. The
percentage of shipping interest of the United Kingdom in the Trade of Aden
increased from 2*20 to 5*53, and that of India and Burmah from 13*20 to 17*82,
while that of British Colonies and Protectorates decreased from 52*40 to 49*63 ;
Foreign Countries also decreased from 32*20 to 27*02.
II.— Land Teade.
In addition to the ancient camel caravan trade with the Mainland of
Arabia, the Aden Bailway began transporting goods between Aden and Lahej
jn March 1919, and railway statistics are for the first time included in the
ollowing figures. The number of camel-loads of produce imported into Aden
Ub '^• a ^ an( ^ 0 I Arabia increased from 86,150 to 128,100 ; the total value
0 produce increased from £105,129 to £295,498, chiefly in coffee, fruits and
vegetables, fresh, and hides and shins, raw; the only decrease being in grain.
e jincrease is largely due to the removal of restrictions, and the great demand
ar ^ c ^ es imported. Exports increased very largely from £16,404 to
, ? .8 or by £109,074 which is accounted for by the removal of most of the
es . ric ti°ns at a time when hardly any article of necessity and luxury was
Vai able in the Hinterland. The chief increases were under cotton twist and
^igar^ D e ce-goods ; tobacco ; rice ; oils herosene and jinjelli; dates; spices and
H 923-27
105
(-115,364), aiid other increases under etc. (+£7,585); hardivare
aid cutlery (+£8,606) , (+£15,110); and perfumery (+£10 380).
Class IV iucreased by £14,090, due mainly to articles per post (-j-£16 270) *
there was a decrease in fodder, and a small increase in specimens.