BERMU'DA (named after their discoverer), or SOMERS ISLANDS. A group of small islands and reefs in the Atlantic belong ing to Great Britain, and situated in latitude 32° 14' N. and longitude 64° 40' IV., about 750 miles southeast of New York, and about 600 miles east-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (Slap: America, North, 11 6). It lies on the route from Europe to the West Indies. and derives additional importance from its position midway between the West Indies and the British possessions in North America. The group, in cluding the uninhabited islets and reefs, numbers about 300 islands, of which, however, only about 20 are inhabited. The total area of the group is about 12.000 acres, of which Saint George, Ber muda, Somerset, and Ireland occupy the larger part. The islands are of coralline formation, composed mostly of white limestone, and are surrounded by numerous reefs, which make navi gation dangerous. The highest point of laud is 260 feet. There are no streams, and the fresh water supply is dependent on rains. Beautiful scenery, luxuriant vegetation, and• other varied attractions, combined with a healthful and equa ble climate, make the islands favorite summer and winter resorts with Americans. During the winter the temperature ranges from about 50° in the morning to about 70° at midday. In the summer is about the maximum. Frosts are unknown, and the ocean winds are tempered by the Gulf Stream. The soil is of remarkable fer tility, and the climate is very favorable to vege tation. The chief products are sweet potatoes, onions. bananas, arrowroot, and some corn. The
agricultural products go mostly to the United States and Canada, and the value of annual ex ports averages about $500,000. The islands pro duce also large quantities of lily-bulbs, which are shipped to the United States, where-they are kept in hothouses until Easter.
The group is regarded as of considerable strat egical importance, and is strongly fortified. It is the winter naval station for the British North Atlantic and West Indian squadron, and has a garrison of over 2500 men. The chief centre of population is Hamilton, on Bermuda, with about 2000 inhabitants. The extensive naval estab lishment, dockyards. and floating dock are on Ireland Island. Saint George has lost its com mercial importance. The administration of the group is in the hands of a governor, who is as sisted by two councils, appointed by the Crown, and by an assembly of 36 elected members. The total population of the group is about 16,300 (not counting the military), and includes about 6300 whites. The Bermudas were discov ered by the Spaniard Juan Bermudez, iu 1522, and were first settled by Sir George Somers. in 1609. They were colonized chiefly from Virginia. and received additional immigrants from the United States during the Civil War.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. Newton, Glimpses of Life in Bibliography. Newton, Glimpses of Life in Bermuda (London• 1897) : Heilprin, Bermuda Islands (Philadelphia, 1889) ; Stark, Bermuda. Guide (Boston, 1897) : Cole, Bermuda in Peri odical Literature: .1 Bibliography (Boston, 1898) ; Bell, Beautiful Bermuda (New York and Bermuda, 1902).