Syria: An Economic Survey 



Hunting is of no economic importance in Syria. It is confined 

 to bird catching. In Southern Syria quail are caught in large 

 quantities in the spring, and thrushes and partridges in the fall. 

 Wild pigeons are numerous, and wild duck are to be found on the 

 lakes. 



Deer are scarce, but gazelles and boars are more frequent. In 

 Moab ibex may be found. 



The commonest beasts of prey are the jackal and the hyena, 

 which are not hunted but shot. The badger is seen occasionally. 

 The gray Syrian bear and the panther are found in the Hermon 

 and near the Jebel Jermak in Upper Galilee. 



III. Mining. 



In spite of reports to the contrary there is not a single mine 

 worth mentioning in Syria. 



Asphalt is found around the Dead Sea, in Hasbeya, etc. 



Chrome mines near Latakia have been abandoned. 



There are small quantities of lignite in the Lebanon. 



Numerous attempts to drill oil wells have been abortive so far. 

 In 1914 the Standard Oil Company began to drill in Kurmub, 

 about 31/2 miles south of Hebron, but their operations were inter- 

 rupted by the war. 



It would seem probable that there are sources of bituminous 

 substance in the Dead Sea district. Sulphur is also to be found 

 in that region. There is rock-salt at the southwestern extremity 

 of the Dead Sea, but it has not been utilized because of the difficul- 

 ties of transportation. During the war salt has been taken from 

 the frontier at El-Arish to Gaza. It is also produced in small quan- 

 tities by evaporation at the northern end of the Dead Sea. The 

 following analysis of the water on the northwestern shore of the 

 Dead Sea was made in 1910 : 



Specific gravity 1.124% 



Weight of solid constituent parts 23.85 % 



Sodium Bromide 52 % 



Potassium Chloride 1.52 % 



Magnesia Chloride 10.03 % 



Sodium Chloride 7.855% 



Calcium Chloride 1.52 % 



Calcium Sulphate 146% 



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