'File 17/16 Fish Industry in Muscat (Dr. Bertram's Visit to Muscat)' [‎6v] (12/212)

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should he given, for him to oo.rrv out whatever initial experi
mental fishery work may he possible using the collecting
launches available (See Notes IV and Vll], It would he well
for him to study arable., The careful recording,, of the
results of experiments and of all fishing grounds, must be
insisted upon (See Note Vll)
When the negotiations for obtaining a trawler from U# IN
finally bpoke^downj plans' were prepared, through AIOC f s
London Office f for a JO ft trawler to be built at Kuweit*
This work has however not yet been put in hand. Though the
Kuweit builders could probably handle the job satisfactorily
there are present difficulties connected with timber supplies
and other contracts (See Note VUl). I am of the opinion
that if a trawler is to he built for AIOC a vessel of 90-100ffc
would be preferable to the present specifications. The latter
appears to have been drawn wp in forgetfulness of the fact
that 7Qft was a limit set simply by the earlier possibility
of transport from U.K« on the deck of a merchant vessel. The
specifications in my view should also be modified in other
ways « In particular I consider that it Would he wise to
provide full refrigeration, (not simply cooling) machinery, 1
from the beginning* (These matters are treated at length in :
Note IX) The larger vessel recommended would also of courv j
require a larger engine than that planned for the 70ft vessel.
It is a too general assumption that if onl 3 ;r a trawler is
available it can be sent to,sea and large quantities of fish
will at once he caught. This.may be a dangerous -assumption
when applied to tropical waters* The available evidence for
the success of trawling at the head of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. is
not extensive.
In 1936-38 Dr. Blcgvad, a Dane who was carrying out experi
mental fishery work for the Persian Government, had moderate
success in a small number
in question (See Note X).
during the war of 1914-18
tain trawling at the.head
of
trawling experiments in the area
However it is widely stated that
the British army arranged for cer-
of the Gulf, and that this met >•*.
with enought success to keep ..a. large hospital and various
units regularly supplied with fresh fish in the Basra region*
Mr* Grice, Director General gf Local Products, Iraq Govern-
ment, in particular, from his -p-n^w,
the last war, assured me that
long
this
experience dating from
was so.
It would seem evident that there
c i J nere as enough evidence to
justify considerable efforts on the part of AIOC to develop
local trawling and to provide itself for the purpose with a
fully equipped refrigerating trawler of 90-100ft length.
This course is recommended. Pop further details (See Notes
IX and X)*
However it needs to be realized that the product of one
such vessel, whether obtained by its own trawling activity,
or by fishing by.other net methods (See Note Vll), and even
if backed up by it.engaging in fish collection from native
fishermen further down the Gulf, is unlikely to bring the
total of fresh fish available at Abadan up to the prelimi
nary target set at 3000 tons per year*
The question for decision by the AIOC is then a multiple
one* Given the desire for a really substantial increase
of fresh fish supplies at Abadan
, shall the necessary
90-100 ft, vessel be limited to one (which by itself cannot
fully/*. *. *.