'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎154r] (312/610)

273
.pany’s in-
id animals
n Govern-
company,
office at
British line
ffie Britisk
a certain
irk of cur-
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with the
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obtained
roon and
ks were
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coasts and the fishery became one of the most valuable in the
world. Fish and caviare were exported via Baku and Astrakhan
to Moscow, Petrograd, Ukraine, Poland and other parts of
Russia, and to Germany.
The 2 Customs Statistics, however, reveal a falling off in
the amount of fish exported from the Persian ports during
recent years even previous to 1914.
The firm claim that their pre-war gross annual income
averaged from 4,000,000 to 4,500,000 roubles (£400,000 to
£450,000), and expenses from 2,000,000 to 2,500,000 roubles,
leaving a profit of 2,000,000 to 2,500,000 roubles.
The firm was supported by the Russian Government, and
their extensive establishments and operations along the whole
Caspian littoral of Persia gained some political significance
and furthered the Russian policy of penetration into Northern
Persia. This probably accounts for the dislike entertained
by Persians towards the firm.
In the spring of 1918 after the Russian revolution Lionosoff’s
head office was transferred from Moscow to Baku. The fish
Exported by the firm from Persia to Baku and Astrakhan was
requisitioned by the Bolsheviks who at Astrakhan also forced
the firm to grant a great increase of wages to their Russian
employes.
With the losses of capital in Russia, increased expenses and
diminished receipts the firm became embarrassed and remained
in debt to the Persian Government for rent of the fishing grounds
for 1918-19.
Pishing operations were, however, continued in the spring of
1919 until the Persian Government compelled them to desist
and seized the stock of fish and caviare at Enzali as a set off
to the debts of the firm to the government and to several Persian
subjects.
A commission was formed of representatives of the firm
and the Persian Government, the Russian Vice-Consul of Rasht,
•and the British Assistant Political Officer, Enzali, to sell off
a portion of the firm’s gear to realize cash for payment of their
Persian employes, who, it was feared, if payment were further
deferred, might cause a disturbance in Enzali which was under
British martial law. As soon as the Persian employes had been
paid the British refused to be drawn into participation in ques- 1
1 See para. (6) Exports, p. 268.