Political No. 23 of 1874, Forwarding a Copy of Papers Relating to the Projected Exploration of the Persian Gulf by a British Company to be Established for the Purpose of Pearl Fishing [‎259v] (6/20)

3. I have warned Mr. Grant of the great danger and risk he would incur
by going to Oman in the present disturbed state of the country; and I believe
that he has quite abandoned all idea of prosecuting the scheme in hand anv
further, at least for the present. ^
Enclosure No. 5.
No. 6836, dated Bombay Castle, 7th November 1873.
From—Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. ,
To—Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
■With reference to the letter from the Acting Political Pesident in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to your address, No. 1298-168, of the 4th ultimo, re«*ardino> a
scheme entertained by some British merchants for obtaining supplies of pearls
from the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. banks, I am directed to enquire if it is the desire of
the Government of India to discourage any attempt to develops these fisheries
by improved appliances through the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. of Europeans.
Enclosure No. 6.
No. 11, dated Jeypoor, 12th December 1873.
From—Officiating Agent to the Governor-General for the States of Bajpootana,
To—Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Office docket No.
1465P. of , desiring me to report concerning the advisa
bility or otherwise of encouraging the development of the pearl fisheries in
the deeper channels of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
2. This question touches a large and complicated subject, vk., that of
proprietorship in the Arab pearl fisheries in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in general,
together with our relations thereto.
3. The question may be viewed from two points, 1^, from a point purely
mercantile, and, 2nd, from a point of practical politics.
4. In so fax as the mercantile question is conceimed, it would of coui’se be
advisable to leave the peail trade, like every other ti*ade, as untrammelled as
possible by authority.
5. But when we come to consider the question of the pearl fisheiles in
relation to our police and political positions in the Gulf, the question of per-
h ersons ot ! ler than the Arabs to fish on the pearl banks assumes a
uirrerent and a serious aspect.
rPi 0 ^ tlme i immemor i a l tlie pearl banks along the Arab littoral of the
ersian Gulf have been held to be the property of the Arabs in common. We
ave accepted this condition of tenure, constituted ourselves arbitrators of the
maixinie peace m tie Gulf, and entered into trucial engagements with the
Glnefs ot the Arab Coast under which they are bound to refer all their disputes
by sea to us. ’ 1
, . ^\ -ttitheito, I am not aware that we have permitted either our own
su jec s oi oieigners to intrude on the pearl fisheries; on the contrary, we
xave uni oim y iscouraged any interference, and on at least one occasion
lave posi ive y pi o ibited a British owned steamer fitted with a diving apparatus
from prosecuting her divings.
s.
mi ,* ei 1 s anc * ^ la ^ ^ le P re sent memorialists limit their intentions to the
+ he eeper waters ot the Gulf, but it must be borne in mind that
i’q ^ eislarL y as a whole is a shallow sea. The deepest water, mid channel,
° lor ^ s • . O n the Arab side of the Gulf the water is shoaled
°, le ^ ea - J- H or instance in the neighbourhood of the Isles of Bahrein
i- fr x 6 ~ 11 oas ^ there is seven or nine fathoms water at from 15 to 25 miles
rlivp in A 1 ] 0111 A e s J ) ? re an( t it is in these depths that the Arabs habitually
ong e n ate Coast, the pearl banks with a similar depth of water
2