92 THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET. 



which had its annual sittings and regulated the ' feed- 

 ing rights.' Its proper officers kept a debit and credit 

 account of every man's land and stock in the ' Stock 

 Book ' with business exactness. Every proprietor 

 was required to render to the clerk a correct statement 

 of his stock of cattle, horses, and sheep, within four- 

 teen days after ' shearing time ' ; and in case the par- 

 ties neglected or refused to do so, they were subjected 

 to a penalty of one penny per week for each sheep, 

 and proportionately for horses and cattle, which was 

 at the rate of sixteen sheep equalling one horse, or 

 eight sheep for one cow. So very particular were they 

 that every fractional part of a common or privilege 

 was noted. . . . 



" These fractions existed as well in the { general held ' 



as in the ' feeding rights.' I read also that in snvin^ 



© © © © 



these shares by will, fractions were devised as low 

 as ? 3 g of a common; this would make it ^ of 19-^ 

 part of the common and undivided lands." 



If, after reading the foregoing, the resident or vis- 

 itor does not understand what the common and un- 

 divided or dividend lands of the island of Nantucket 

 are, or what constitutes to-day a cow, sheep, or horse 

 common, or a feeding right, they must not blame the 

 compiler. 



Courts. 



The Supreme Judicial Court for Nantucket is held 

 at New Bedford the second Tuesday in November, 

 and at Taunton the third Tuesday in April. 



The Law Term for Nantucket is held at Taunton 

 the fourth Tuesday in October. 



