ملف ١٩١٤/٢٨٣٠، الجزء ١، "الخليج الفارسي: مصائد الإسفنج. مؤسسة استكشاف الإسفنج". [و‎‎٩‎٠] (٤٨٨/١٨٤)

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[Confidential.]
No. 2717, dated Bushire, the 24)th November (received 4th December) 1906.
From— Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Political Resident in the Persian Gulf,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
I have the honour to refer to paragraph 2 of Foreign Department letter
No. 3977,* dated 8th October 1906, on the subject of the Sponge Exploration
Syndicate’s operations.
2. 'While the divers were in the Gulf I was at pains to keep myself in
formed as far as possible in regard to their movements, and in view of further
details since received, of which I append the purport, I feel sure that the
deputation of a Government vessel at this stage to enquire into their unobtru
sive operations would not result in the acquisition of any more complete or
scientifically valuable details than those which are now to hand.
3. In view of the uncertainty which at present attaches to the subject and
of the intrinsic importance of the Sponge fishing industry generally in the
view of the British Museum Authorities, I venture to hope that, when a con
venient juncture arises, the Government of India will entertain the precau
tionary measure of setting existing doubts at rest by means of organised scien
tific investigation.
Owing to the excessively hot weather at Ormuz, the divers could only
work for about 18 hours during the time they were in those localities.
On their return to Bushire, they tried Kharag with no brilliant results.
I am, however, informed that there was much disagreement and bad blood
between Hatinoglou and Captain Demetri who was guiding the operations of
six Greek divers, and it is alleged that it was on account of this disagreement
that the diving operations proved a failure and the divers dilly dallied with
their work until the expiry of the period of their contract, when they insisted
upon leaving.
Captain Demetri was a Spongologist and he told me that there were many
places in the Gulf full of sponges, good, bad and^ indifferent qualities, of all
which he had gathered specimens. It was his opinion that he could enlarge
the fields of the good sorts by cultivation so as to be ready for harvesting in
three or four years’ time.
HatinoMou himself was very sanguine of ultimate success and told me
that ids object in going to Europe was to arrange with a Syndicate for return
ing with the best equipment for operations.
If one were to read between the lines, he was not quite sure of succeeding
Information furnished by one of the Malcolm family.
to be of the finest quality known, and this may tempt the Syndicate to renew
G. I. C. P. 0.—No. 2920 F. D.— 10-12-1906,—50.—J. N. S.