CHANNEL ISLANDS (Fr. tic la 11am:ht. the Channel Archipelago). A group of islands geographically connected with France. hut politically attached to Great Britain, in the English Channel. to the nest of the peninsula of Cotentin. The islands He 10 to 30 miles distant trout the Normandy coast. and 50 to 120 miles south of the English coast (Map: Prance, 1) 2).
ey comprise •Iersey. Guernsey. Alderney. and Sark, and a number of islet-. Their combined area is about 75 square miles.
Fatuous for their strategic position. history. an tiquities, genial climate. and picturesque and varied -ornery, they constitute favorite and fash ionable resorts for English, French, and oven Amerieatt invalids and tourists. The small and highly cultivated farm holdings. ranging front 5 to 12 acres, and the good military roads. give the island- the appearance of carefully laid ont pleas ure grounds. and gained from Victor lingo, long a resident. the de-4,rnation of 'gardens I if The principal indn-try is agricultnre. The soil produees good crops: horticulture and floriculture potatoes are eXtellsiVely cultivated for exportation. the annual yield in Jersey exceeding 00.000 tons. valued at $1,3•0.000, while Guernsey supplies J.ondon and Paris with enormous nit i• ties of fruit, grown mnler glass. The chief fertilizer is or seaweed, the re!rnla• ering of which. controlled by legislation, is one of the eltaracteri•t scenes. A large quantity is used in the manufacture of kelp and iodine. its value to Guernsey being estimated at annually. The three lar!.er islands are noted for distinctive breeds of rattle, the purity of each bro.,' being jealously guarded; they are remarkable for their small size. symmetry. color. and beauty. and for the yield and quality of their milk, making dairy farming a profitable industry. There are important fisheries of turbot, lohn Dory, conger-eels. oysters., lobsters. monster crabs, etc. The quarries of Jersey and Guernsey arr extensively worked and export line granite for building purposes. There is daily communi cation by steamers with Various English and French ports, and an average of 3000 vessels of •1111,1100 gross tonnage enter and clear the 'Ilan ael Island ports annually.
The geology of the islands is particularly itt in the primary of granite rocks; vegetation is rich and varied, and scien tists here find a comprehensive field of study in a small compass. The coasts are rocky and danger
ous, and the tidal currents treacherous; light houses stand on the more important headlands and outlying reefs. The population in 1901 was n5.841. The chief town is Saint Helier, on the island of Jersey. Among the farming' popula tion the vernacular language is old Norman French, which differs in peculiarities of spelling and pronunciation in each island, and even in parishes of the same island. The English lan guage predmninates in the town whkb contain a large proportion of British and many French residents. Offieially attached to Hamp shire. England. and the diocese of Winehester, the islands are self-governed and al•urril interest ing examples of home rule. forming, as Freeman states. 'distinct •ommonwealths.' They comprise the Iwo bailiwicks of .Tersev and Guernsey—the latter including Alderney, Sark, Herm. and ad jaeent isles each presided over by a 'bailiff' or chief magistrate of native extraction appointed by the British Crown, and assisted by a 'States' or Legislative Assembly, comprising `jurats' or magistrates. the rectors of the parishes, all life officers. the 'constables' or paroehiaI mayors, and a number of 'deputies' or representatives elected for a term. Judicial affairs arc managed by a royal eou•t, consisting of the bailiff and jurats. who thus till the anomalous dual positions of ht w-makers and law-dispensers. The 11rit Government is represented by lieutenant-gover nors. generally army of of distinction, who are appointed for five years, command the mili tary forces in the islands, have the right of veto and an equal seat with the bailiff in the States Assembly. but Ito Vote. French is the Oirielal language of the legislatures and eourt., but after long opposition t he optional use of English has been adopted. There are also courts. Taxation is light, living is inexpensive. but military service at fixed periods is compul cory on all male natives and residents from li; to 60 years of age The laws of the i.slands are derived from the coutumi,r dr the islands having once formed part of the Duchy of Normandy.