'التقرير الإداري عن الخليج الفارسي لعام ١٩٣٦' [ظ‎‎٣‎٢] (٧٤/٦٤)

52
journey and for five months in the year during the monsoon period, com
munication by sea is entirely cut off. The Official—a Member of the Rul
ing Family—appointed by the Sultan to act as his representative in Muscat
had been invested with restricted powers and the consequence of these con
ditions was to make the conduct of official business exceedingly difficult and
at times impossible. During the year the Political Agent had to proceed
three times by air and once by sea to Dhofar to see the Sultan concerning
important matters.
Matters of lesser importance affecting the interests of His Majesty's
Government and the Sultanate have been dealt with under appropriate
headings in Part II of the Report.
The Commercial Treaty between His Majesty's Government and the
Sultan was renewed on 11th February.
5. Judicial. —Judicial matters form the subject of a separate report.
6. Trade. —Imports and exports during the year 1935-36 showed an
improvement as will be seen from the following figures supplied by the
local Customs Department.
The imports show an increase of Rs. 2,24,119 which is due to increase
in the imports of textiles, wheat flour, tea, spices, twist yarns and oils.
Exports show an increase of Rs. 7,03,561, but this is due solely to the
exports of Maria Theresa Dollars to the value of Rs. 7,86,042 and Specie
and Silver Krans to the value of Rs. 1,12,400. Otherwise a decrease of
exports of the usual commodities is shown compared with last year.
Th ; s decrease in exports is shown by the following figures :—
Dry dates 11,22,715 7,13,330 4,09,385
Wet Dates 2,64,373 2,37,084 57,289
Dried Fish 4,06,006 1,43,785 2,62,221
The decrease in the value of dates is due to the lower prices ruling than
last year, while the shipment of dried fish heavily declined as a result
partly of the Italo-Abyssinian war but chiefly on account of the refusal
of the chief importer, Germany, to take any of this produce except on
a barter basis which for Muscat has been found impracticable. At the
close of the year large stocks of dried fish were on hand in the local ware
houses and also in bond in Germany and if these cannot be disposed of,,
severe losses will be suffered by the merchants concemed.
As in the past year, the chief place as an importer of piecegoods is
held by Japan who continues to strengthen her position in the market.
A cheap brand of Japanese cement is making progress against the
Indian (Porbunder) cement.
7. (A) Royal Navy. —Visits of H. M. Ships and Royal Air Force
Machines to Muscat are detailed in Appendix "A" to this Report.
Last year the Sultan accorded permission for the establishment of a
recreational station for the use of the personnel of H. M. Ships, on the
small uninhabited island of Jazirat-al-Ghannm which is situated to the
north of the Mussandum Peninsula and at the entrance to the Persian Gulf.
The station was completed during the year and consists of a Canteen,
Officers' Club, Power House, Store-house and Quarters for the Caretaker
and Staff.
(B) Royal Air Force. —A Royal Air Force reconnaissance with the co-
nperation of H. M.'s Navy was carried out along the south-east coast of
the Sultanate in October-November. The object of the expedition was to
Imports .
Exports .
1934-35. 1935-36. Increase.
. 36,13,716 38,37,835 2,24,119
. 25,61,387 32,64,948 7,03,561
1934-35. 1935-36. Decrease.