THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 151 



a bounty of 1 cent a pound on all fiber produced for export during the follow- 

 ing six years. The production therefore increased rapidly, until in the four 

 years 1897 to 1900 the annual output reached over 1,000,000 pounds. During 

 1902 the output reached 2,345,311 pounds, with a value of £37,574. 



Some effort was made a few years ago to introduce the growing of 

 Manila fiber {Musa textiles), but without success. 



During the Civil War in the United States the Islands became the 

 depot for all cotton from the Southern States, and as a result were extremely 

 prosperous. After the close of the war, however, business came to a standstill, 

 and it may be said that only in recent years have the Islands begun to recover 

 from the evil effects of the inflation of that period. 



Thus, from the very first agriculture in the Bahamas has met with great 

 obstacles. The colonists, disheartened by their reverses in the attempt to 

 grow cotton, as already stated, deserted their plantations, leaving them to the 

 slaves. Many left the Islands or devoted themselves to other pursuits. They 

 finally had recourse to the sea. It was only natural, considering their sur- 

 roundings, that this should be the case. Agriculture, with its attendant 

 difficulties, offered nothing more than a mere living, while wrecking, fishing 

 and sponging afforded remunerative employment and held out alluring pros- 

 pects of occasional good fortune. Agriculture, however, was not given up 

 entirely, but between voyages efforts were made to produce from the soil what 

 little necessaries it afforded, and a great part of this work devolved upon the 

 women and children. Agriculture thus became subordinated to the maritime 

 pursuits, and still holds only a secondary place in the industries of the Islands. 



CLIMATE. 



As the Bahamas extend from 21° to 28° north latitude, they have practi- 

 cally a tropical climate. The range of temperature between the averages of 

 the summer and the winter seasons is only about 10°, the average for summer 

 being 82° F., and for winter 72° P. The extremes of temperature are about 

 16° above the average for summer and about 19° below the average for winter. 

 Hence frosts are unknown. 



The average annual rainfall is about 50 inches, ranging between a max- 

 imum of 91 inches and a minimum of 25 inches. It is, however, unequally dis- 

 tributed throughout the year, occurring chiefly during the summer, while in 

 the winter long droughts are common. At times the precipitation is exceedingly 

 heavy, and much damage is done to the crops. Often the dashing rains wash 



