'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎166r] (336/610)

297
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iitudes at
to the Pasteur or cellular system, give the 1 best results, and
are better able to stand the journey and changes of climate than
those of Prance, Greece or Italy. Prom 1907 to 1911, 230,000
to 300,000 2 * boxes of seeds were imported' each year valued at the
Customs at between £45,000 and £50,000, and an annual average
of 2,500,000 lbs. of dried silk cocoons were exported principally
to Italy (Milan) and also to Prance (Lyon). In addition about
3 30 per cent, of this amount were spun locally. In 1912-13
1,673,023 lbs. of dried cocoons were exported from Enzali
valued at 7,635,789 krans, about £138,000 at the rate of exchange
then prevailing. The price of 4 fresh cocoons in Rasht ranged
from 20 to 30 krans per man shah (13 lbs.).
The trade was principally in the hands of Greeks, chief
of whom were Messrs. Pascalides, and Tumaniantz Bros.
Exaggerated, credits were gradually spoiling the trade and
after 1907 practically no margin of profit was left to the exporter.
The latter bought cocoons by advancing money at no fixed
purchase rate, as the rate was not settled on until after the
cocoons had been disposed of in Europe. As an extreme in
stance the price of cocoons exported in 1910 was only settled
in June 1911 or less than a month before the 1911 crop. Owing
to competition between exporters the sums advanced by them
to the producers were often in excess of the value of the cocoons
and the producer would promise to pay the balance in cocoons
the following year.
Production during the war fell off owing to the difficulties
of importing good quality and the use of inferior seeds, and
epidemics of 5 Muscardine, 6 Pimprine, and 7 Flacherie. The
latter reappeared annually for 5 or 6 years until in 1919 the
silk industry of Gilan had entirely ceased, the peasants prefer
ring to cut down the mulberry bushes and cultivate rice and
tobacco.
In the winter 1919-20 a fresh start was made. Some 16,000
boxes of seeds of fair quality were imported to Rasht, which
1 Monsieur Lafont director of the station Sericicole of Montpellier, made
experiments at Rasht during 3 consecutive years, and is of opinion that eggs of
good and sound quality could easily be produced In Gilan. gg
Ihe majority of boxes are 25 grammes, a few 30 grammes in weight.
. T*? 6 Percentage of cocoons exported or spun locally depended on the price
of silk in European markets, a high price encouraging their export and a low
price discouraging it. ^ w
4 Cocoons lose § of their weight in the process of drying. 10 lbs. of dried
cocoons yield about 1 lb. of silk. h uxleu
Muscardine, a disease of the silkworm, is usually caused by dampness
6 Pimpnne is a disease of the eggs. mpn s.
’ Flacherie, a disease of the worm, is due to careless feeding, dirt, etc. The
shelters and trays become infected and unless adequate steps are taken to combat
the disease it recurs every year. . -