86 THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET. 



volumes. Although the school was founded originally 

 for the benefit of a certain class, all are now admitted 

 on the payment of a small tuition fee. The control of 

 the school and its fund is vested in a board of nine 

 trustees. 



The trustees at present are Charles G. Coffin, Esq., 

 Chairman; David Folger, Esq., Secretary and Treas- 

 urer; Hon. Joseph Mitchell, Andrew Whitney, Esq., 

 Judge T. C. Defriez, Matthew Barney, Esq., B. C. 

 Easton, and Dr. B. F. Pitman. 



Commons. 



The questions are often asked by visitors to the 

 island, Where and what are the Commons ? These 

 are rather difficult questions to answer, and a full and 

 explicit explanation as to what and where they are 

 would require more space than can be allowed in this 

 work. By reading, however, the following article, con- 

 tributed by W. II. Macy, Esq., a very good idea can 

 be obtained in regard to them. 



Sheep Commons. 



By W. H. Macy. 



The common-land system of Nantucket is some- 

 what puzzling to those who have had no occasion to 

 study it; and even the average native of the island, 

 when asked what a sheep common means, appears 

 to have no definite or clear idea on the subject. An 

 elaborate article on this theme would possess little 

 interest to the general reader, but a few words may 

 not be amiss, to give an outline of the meaning of the 

 terms " sheep common " and " cow common." 



