1906.] MOLLUSKS FROM THE PERSIAX GULF. 805 



back into the sea by the divers for want of room on board the 

 diving craft, as well as to avoid the evil effects from the puti-e- 

 fying oysters. 



Tlie European market prices of the various qualities of the 

 three descriptions of shells named, are best obtainable in London. 



The Mother-o'-Peari and Mussel are sought after for the sake 

 of the shell alone, but the Pearl-Oyster is gathered for the j^earls, 

 and the shell only considered as a by-product. 



The most primitive methods are adopted in the diving opera- 

 tions, and no modern appliances are used or allowed by the tribes. 

 The banks on the Arab side of the Gulf are the common property 

 of the Arab tribes inhabiting that region, and are open to all 

 comers so long as the same methods as are adopted by the Araljs 

 are employed. The banks near the Persian coast and islands are 

 claimed by Persia. The diving craft are generally equipped by 

 the owners, and the results of the opei-ations are shared by the 

 owner and crew in proportions laid down by custom. The owner 

 receives 20 per cent, of the nett earnings and 80 per cent, is divided 

 between the crew, each diver receiving three shares and each 

 rope-puller and extra man two shares. Occasionally men may be 

 engaged for a round sum from Rs. 100 to Rs. 200 for the season, 

 but these are generally indifferent divers who cannot obtain 

 advances from their first employers. 



It is difficult for new-comeis to obtain the services of good 

 divers owing to the system in vogue, which practically makes this 

 class of men slaves to the masters of the f)earling boats. The 

 men's earnings are in the majoi-ity of cases insufficient to keep 

 them all the year round, and consequently they take advances 

 from their masters year after year to such an extent that they can 

 never i-epay their debt, and when a diver elects to engage himself 

 to another boat the owner of the latter has to pay up the debt 

 due to the formei- master, should he engage him. 



The Pearl-shell and Pearl-fishing season commences in the 

 second week of May, and terminates in the third week of Sept- 

 ember generally, and Arabs, Negroes, and Persians are usually 

 employed in the operations. The loss of life from sharks is said 

 to be very small. The divers, however, suffer from chest diseases, 

 and their average life is shorter than that of people occupied in 

 other industries. 



The value of the Pearls exported from the Persian Gulf dui-ino- 

 1901 is estimated at over three-quarters of a million sterlino- 

 (£750,000). 



(Signed) J. Calcott Gaskin, 



Assistant Political Agent. 

 Bahrein, 5tli May, 1902. 



Note by Air. F. TF. Townsend on Air. Gaskin's report. 

 " I have at odd times during the last twelve years done a con- 

 siderable amount of dredging off the coast of Hinderabi, Shaikh 

 Shuaib, and Kais Islands, chiefly on the southern side, in from 



