'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the Year 1938' [‎10v] (20/60)

8
German Interests. —Steamers of the Hansa Line have again increased the
total tonnage carried by them. A very small decrease in imports, 15,108
tons as against 15,255 tons in 1927, is offset by a considerable increase in
exports, 5,095 tons as against 3,094. Imports consisted of motor cars, almost
entirely American, iron and ironware, glassware, loaf sugar, and machinery.
Exports consisted of cotton, gum Arabic, liquorice, dried fruits of all kinds,
goat-hair and other third class category goods. Towards the end of 1938
the Hamburg American Line made a survey of the Gulf to see if it would be
worthwhile restarting their prewar service. Rumour has it, however, that the
survey was unprofitable.
Japanese Interests. —In 1937 there were four services running regularly
to the Gulf. Now there are only two, i.e., the Mitsui and Yamashita Lines.
During the year 21 of their steamers called at Bushire and landed 1,141 tons
of cargo, mostly tea, glassware and piecegoods. They took away, however,
only 195 tons of opium.
Russian Interests. —The only U. S. S. R. business through Bushire in
1938 consisted of the import of sugar for the Government Monopoly. It
came in one Norwegian and two Greek steamers bringing a total of 5,42i tons.
Other Interests. —The American Silver Line and other American Lines
have ceased to call at Bushire and cargo for Bushire is being landed at Basrah
for transhipment by B. I. steamers. One American and one Dutch steamer,
however, called during the year.
4. Opium. —The following are the details of opium shipped from Bushire
during 1938 : —
January ....... 300 cases for Batavia.
February . . . .
50
Macao.
March .....
078
5 > 5 >
Taku ?
March . . . . .
150
Yokohama ?
April . . . . .
300
>> >>
Marseilles.
April .....
160
Saigon.
May .....
300
>5
Saigon.
May .....
300
) J
Macao.
May .....
35
Hamburg.
June . . . . .
200
n >>
Singapore.
June . . . . .
10
M 55
London.
July . . . .
300
55 55
Singapore.
August . . . . .
300
55 15
Singapore.
September . . . .
200
55 55
Singapore.
October .....
• • • • •
November . . . .
200
5 5 55
Singapore.
December ....
972
5 5 5 5
Macao ?
Total . 4,755
cases.
Of the above, only 345 cases were shipped to Western markets, the
balance going to the Far East. The majority of these shipments were made
openly. But two of them, i.e., the 1,128 cases in March and the 972 cases
in December were shipped very secretly for the Far East on two Japanese
steamers. The port markets and destination were kept secret by the
shippers. The Opium Monopoly Department has greatly increased its
export of opium during the year, and Japanese trade agents in Tehran have
been making every effort to get more exported to be paid for by the import
of Japanese goods.
5. Communication.—Sea. —The B. I. Slow mails both up and down still
call weekly at Bushire. The Fast Mail service also still calls in alternate
weeks. Strick continue their monthly service and Ellerman and Bucknail
call occasionally. Ships of the Hansa Line both from Germany and direct
from New York call fairly regularly. The only other foreign steamers making
regular calls are those of the Yamashita and Nippon Yussen Kaisha Lines
(Japanese).
Air. —Air France still maintains its weekly service to and from Europe
and India. In November and December the aerodrome became water-logged
and on several occasions planes were unable to land. They did, however.