'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf for the year 1932' [‎539v] (54/73)

46
f
against Rs. 66,58,340 for the preceding year. The figures of exports are not
accurate since few of the pearls exported are declared at their proper value,-
and those carried on the person are not declared at all. The figures for
specie also are not reliable.
43. Industry .—The tile industry closed down, being unable to dispose of
accumulated stocks. The tiles are good and very cheap, but the times are
against the purchase of anything but necessities.
44. Ahmad bin Yusuf Fakhru, with the encouragement of the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , has
opened a Morris Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. and has sold a Minor arid two Cowley saloons. The
springing of the latter is an immense improvement on the old model, and if only
touring models were available he would do much better. The more expensive
models have no sale at present.
45. Athletics —interest in football continues to increase and some of
the young AI-Khalifah join in the game. Cricket also has some devotee^
principally Indians or young men educated in India.
46. Boat Building and Shipping .—The total number of launches plying for
hire on the 31st December was 62.
47. Sixteen sailing vessels were built during the year as compared with
thirty-two built during 1931.
48. One hundred and fifty-one British ships, eleven German and three 1
Norwegian entered and cleared the Port of Bahrain as compared with one^
hundred and seventeen British Ships, eleven German ships and two Norwegian
ships that entered and cleared the Port of Bahrain during 1931.
49. A launch belonging to the Shaikh of Tibbin which was returning there
with merchandize, caught fire on the 26th August on the pearl banks not far front
Bahrain, and was completely destroyed, fortunately without loss of life. The
engine was a German one supplied by Yusuf Fakhru, and the incident is not
likely to enhance their sales.
50. The Qusaibis sold a big launch to His Majestv Bin Sahid and it suc
cessfully made the voyage to Jeddah, reaching Muscat in four da vs from
Bahrain.
51. I he year was notable for the advent of three special steamers, the
! MaHy ” on the 27th January, the “ Fagcrvick ” on the 27th April and the
A imedi on the 2/th October. The two last named carried direct cargo for
mainland ports,, and the “ Ahmedi ” was refused permission to discharge anv
cargo at Bahrain as she declined to guarantee that the mainland cargo would
pay the customary two per cent, transit duty.
XT . 52 - . Tlie competition of these. steamers with the British India Steam
Navigation Company, Limited, is a very serious matter for the Gulf The
regular mail service, first of all monthly ami then fortiuphtlv and weekly has
heen the creation of the Gult trade as we know it now, and ships such as'these
ioirvlfrt V fT ry v Ca 2?’ f0 V 0 V W >' two best ports only cause great
wf n. m ^ India Steam Navigation Company, Limited, at a time when
' , ' ca " ' n afford it. By their mail contract the Companv are obliged to call
at a number of ports which no longer have any trade worth mentioning, and
they are thereby handicapped in dealing with these competitors.
. 53. Royal Aavy. H. M. S. “ Ormonde ’’ arrived in on the 20th Februarv
being proceeded by a party on the 7th February to carry out a survey. They
nalh left 011 the 13th May not having altogether completed their work They
were delayed by storms, January having been exceptionally calm and the other
months correspondingly stormy.
54. The Naval Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Squadron His
Excellency Rear Admiral E. Dunbar-Nasmith, V.O., C B in F M R “ Hawkms ->
paid a visit to Bahrain on the 17th December He left on the 20a December
55. The Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gnlf tt Vr q << m • .1 ,, i
other of His Majesty’s Ships paid visits to Srain durblg the year '' ^
56. Royal Force—The Jiving Boats of 203 (F. B.) Squadron RAF
paid frequent visits to Bahrain during the year. A Rangoon made a ffreed
landing at Jmnah Island on the 16th January, and another made a forced
landing on the 10th September. The Flying Boats have boon exfromelv fortu
mate so far m having made forced landings either in or verv near sheltered
water, for landing m a rough sea would speedily end their Tareers The