تقارير إدارية من الخليج العربي ١٨٨٣/١٨٨٤ – ١٩٠٤/١٩٠٥ [و‎‎٢‎٥‎٢] (٦٠٢/٥٠٨)

EESIDENCY AND MASKAT POLITICAL AGENCY FOR THE YEAR 1901-1902.
17
During the beginning of the year, mule hire for Shiraz stood at krans 95 Mule hire
per 100 maunds of 775 lbs. It went down to 80 krans in April, but in the latter
part of May and during June and July the rate rose to kraus 100. Since then
it has steadily risen till the quotation at the end of December stood at krans 110.
One unsatisfactory feature in the transport of goods to the interior and which
calls for serious attention on the part of the Persian Goyernment, is the
obnoxious practice resorted to by its officials of impressment of pack animals
on various pretexts of public emergency. This practice not unfrequently causes
serious dislocation in the transport of goods entailing loss and annoyance
to the merchants. To secure this impressment, the petty officials start in all
directions to catch and blackmail all caravans which may come within their
reach. The muleteers who are thus caught, are forced to unload their goods and
to work for the officials without any remuneration. Some muleteers, in order to
escape the impressment, pay heavy fines, while others, in order to avoid the harsh
treatment, abandon the laden merchandise in any part of the road and fly to the
hills. Meanwhile the abandoned goods lie for an indefinite period exposed to all
sorts of risks. When the news of the impressment spreads, all caravan traffic
ceases for weeks until the oppression subsides.
Freight.— to London for the first six months of the year gradually
dropped from 25s. to 23$. 'While in July it further fell to 19s., at which rate it
remained standing until December, when owing to competition with a Russian
steamer it declined to 15s.
Shipping—One hundred and twelve vessels with a tonnage of 130,273
entered the port of Bushire during the year. Of these, 109 were British and 3
Russian. l%is, as compared with last year, shows a decline of 2 British, 1
Austrian and 1 Turkish vessels of the tonnage of 9,804, and an increase of 3
Russian of the tonnage of 4,513. The number of vessels which cleared from
Bushire is 111 with a tonnage of 132,854. This shows a decrease of 8 British
vessels of the tonnage of 3,938 and 2 Austrian of the tonnage of 3,827 and an
increase of 3 Russian vessels of the tonnage of 4,513, or a net decrease, as com
pared with the past year, of 7 ships and 2,687 tons. The number of vessels which
entered the port of Lingah is 83 with a tonnage of 91,300 which shows an increase
of 3 vessels and 3,300 tons. Of these, 81 were British and 2 Russian. Of those
which cleared from Lingah, 45 were British with a tonnage of 49,500 and 3
Russian with a tonnage of 3,300. This shows an increase of 9 vessels and 9,900
tons over the figure of the previous year. It appears likely that British shipping
will suffer from more serious competition in the future than has been the case
in the past, and although the result of the Russian steamer which took cargo
from the Gulf to London could not have been very advantageous to those con
cerned, it is likely that when trade improves further attempts will be made in
this direction. The heavy subsidies which it is said are paid to the Russian
steamers will enable them to persevere in their attempts to obtain a share of the
trade.
Russian Commerce—k. new feature in this year's trade is the establishment
of a direct line of steamers between Russia and the Persian Gulf, inaugurated
by the two voyages of the S.S. Korniloff brought loaf sugar, kerosine oil,
gold-lace and piece-goods, etc., of which the statistics are not available.
Customs jldministrcttiofi. —The imposition of o per cent, customs duty on
both imports and exports for European and native merchants was introduced in
the beginning of the Persian official year commencing from the 21st March
1901. This of course met with a good deal of opposition at first on the part of
the native merchants. The measure was, however, carried out and has worked
smoothly, without having had any appreciable effect on trade. The landing
and shipping companies which the late Director of Customs was endeavouring to
introduce came to an untimely end by his premature death, and it is unlikely
that the project will be renewed again. The facilities for landing and shipping
cargo are still inadequate when more than one steamer is in port, and it is very
desirable that the customs authorities should take early steps to put the matter
on a satisfactory footing.
In this connection it may be desirable to mention that until the control of
the Gulf port customs was assumed by the present administration, the levy of the
customs duties at Jiingah was regulated according to a special tanii which was