"ملف ١٧/ ١٦ صناعة صيد الأسماك في مسقط (زيارة الدكتور بيرترام إلى مسقط)" [ظ‎‎٤] (٢١٢/٨)

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Dr» Meiklejohn 1 s conclusion that the large AIOG Labour
force lias an imperfect diet is indisputable* Whether its im-
perfecrtion is much greater than is common among Middle Eastern
people in peace time is more doubtfull. Some would even say
that the AIOC Labour is now better fed in war time that it was
previously in peace ? with however some important exceptions*
% that as it may ? the present and future work of the AIOC,
in oiling the Ear East war* is of such paramount importance
that no risk is justified. Great efforts to improve the
diet of the labour force would still seem worthy even if the
result is a considerably higher nutritional level than the
average for the Middle East* The extraordinarily trying
climate of Abadan and the long hours of hard work; also have
to be borne in mind when considering the diet of AIOG Labour
in relation to food availibilities in nearby territories*
A further point of importance is that to the majority of
the AIOG labour force the surroundings and climate of Abadan
are almost as foreign as to a European, Senior Iranian or
Indian member of the Staff*
Most of the labourers cone, it is stated, from the hill country 'W
Persia where meat and vegetables are freely available and
where the climate is loss extreme*
It is to be noted that the labourers by upbringing are
meat, and not fish, eaters. In peace tine moderate quanti~
tics of meat wore available to them, but theso havo diminished
abeolutely and relatively during the war at the same tine as
the labour force has grown* This explains to a large extent
what might have been the expected prewar natural adjustment
between local fish catching and the new centre of population
at Abadan which has been expanding for over 30 years. The
population of Abadan, some 33 miles from the open water of the
Gulf, lias continued to look landward for its food and well
being* All the other older and smaller population centres on
the shores of the Persian Gulf derive their food and prosperity
mainly from maritime sources, for example Kuweit, Bahrein,
Muscat etc*
The AIOC has now, under tnc pressure of war, become
higifty conscious of this maladjustment between the protein-
poverty of the diet of the labour force and the abundance of
fish* (but not of fishermen), in the nearby waters of the
Persian Gulf* Some successful steps have already been taken
co meet the need by regular collections from local fisherman*
The desire is strong to go far further.
. Tnis necessitates the Company itself entering the fishery
wi oh modern vessles and productive methods of catching, for,,
exar.ipl© by trawling* Such enterprise the Company appears
willing to emoark upon at the present time, though really of a
long-term nature* There seem however to 1 e differences of
opinion as to the post war policy of the Cc rapany over the
feeding of its.nany.thousands of labourers* The primary aim
,_ AIOC being oil production there is a desire, in some
minds, to leave such matters as the feeding of workers after
che war, to the normal traders of Persia. ~ others feel that
this may never be entirely satisfactory and that the food pro
gramme on which the Company has boon forced to embark under the
stress of war, will have to be continued into the peace* This
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is/*