COMMONS. 91 



interest, account being kept with each proprietor; and 

 of course the whole number of the commons or capital 

 stock, so to speak, was reduced to the same extent. 

 By this gradual process of cancellation or absorption, 

 the whole number of sheep commons is now brought 

 down to a few hundred, while the quantity of common 

 land remaining is somewhere between one thousand 

 and two thousand acres. The greater part of the 

 remaining commons are now in a few hands, while a 

 small number of them have been quite lost sight of by 

 the process of infinitesimal subdivision caused by 

 death and inheritance. 



In this connection the compiler is indebted for other 

 items of interest to Albert Easton, Esq., who says: — 



" Beginning with the early proprietorship of the isl- 

 and, when it was purchased by ten men, we find that 

 in order to encourage immigration, they each agreed 

 to take an associate ; and even then it was found neces- 

 sary to bring to the island more artisans and mechanics, 

 until they numbered in the aggregate twenty-seven, 

 and to-day there are so many shares in each division 

 of the various sections of our island. The basis of all 

 the lands was termed i common and undivided.' 



"The occupation of our ancestors, in connection 

 with the remunerative one of whale-fishing, was 

 largely in the interest of sheep husbandry. A large 

 part of the land was used mostly as a cattle, horse, 

 and sheep pasture, a portion being fenced off for 

 the purpose of tillage, and known as the ' general 

 field,' wherein they had planting privileges in propor- 

 tion to their ownership. An organization existed, 



