'Selections from the Records of the Bombay Government' [‎40] (77/733)

40
CONCLUDING REMARKS,
sizes annually prosecuted the fishery. Each of two hundred larse
boats carried a crew of one master, twelve divers, and twelve assistant's in
all twenty-five persons ; one hundred boats of an intermediate size were
furnished each with one master, eight divers, and eight assistants, in all
seventeen persons; one hundred of the smallest boats each contained
one master, six divers, and six assistants, in all thirteen persons
The sale of the yearly produce of the fishery was estimated at the
lowest rate at 40,000 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. , and each Toman 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. at 18 Piastres Eoomee
The shares of the crews of these boats were determined after the
subtraction of one-fourth of the produce of each boat for the proprietor
of It as follows : for the master three shares, for the diver two shares
moJhs aSS15lant 0ne share - ,rhe fishi ng season lasted for three
T7 S 0r theSe b0atS " Sed g enerall y to borrow sums of money,
sufficient to support themselves and families, from bankers resident on
the spot in the following proportions: of the larger 100 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. , of the
intermediate 50Tomans, and the smallest 30 Tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. , either
IZILZ t 0n t, ' e ^nces of grain only, the lender never
ganed less than fifty per cent., often one hundred per cent., as the
ma, kets indicated; but on the cash loans their faith admits of no interest
being given or received. imeresi
In unfavourable S easons of the fishery, these bankers occasionally
deferred the pressure of their claims until the third year, when if the
oat belonged to the debtor, they sold it, and recovered the amount of
their claim ; if not the debt was paid by degrees, from the profits of the
merchLr ^ Undertook vo y a g es 'o ^ « the service of
nortf t' fi 0r , themselves made a venture to some of the neighbouring
ports, with fish and other cargo of their own.
Je y fi!st"l C r 0m ' "r fisherm<m Were obli g e d to offer their pearls for
ten ner , fT ^ 0r ' enj0yed ,he of a discount of
hil , ^ he i a P proved of the article; if not, they were sold to the
g bidder, and the debt of the year paid off. The governor gained
from each boat yearly the portion, or two shares, of a diver wifh he
additional privilege of ourchasino- nt Wf • n , '
value 11 0 Tn i Purchasing at half price all pearls exceeding in
'ht ri eht an 7 anS ', 7 S 10 ^ eX,remely in ,he —'ion of
nuenev 1, K emp y ■ ? Ie3 ln each b0a, • Who re Ported any delin-
quency, which was punished by the forfeiture of the full price of the
gem attempted to be concealed. This effectually prevcntedTcrimc