THE BAHAMA ISLANDS 559 



of the salt product. Most of it was sold to American carriers, and commercial 

 regulations interfered with their coming to the Islands. In the production 

 of salt, the labor was directed to the introduction of sea water into 

 shallow ponds, by means of canals, and after it had evaporated the raking 

 began. The canals and ponds were constructed at the public expense. The 

 difficult part of the labor was in the raking of the salt deposits. The means 

 by which this was carried on were most primitive, and the tenure on which the 

 ponds were held was such as to discourage the introduction of machinery 

 adapted to raking.™ The salt produced at the Turks Islands was of the 

 best quality. According to reports it was preferred in the American markets 

 for the packing of meats. More than 96 per cent of all the salt produced in 

 the Bahamas was produced in the Turks Islands.""'' The entire laboring 

 population there was engaged in it. 



Eegulations of 1781. 



Up to the year 1837 the salt ponds of the Turks Islands were regulated 

 by the provisions of an Order-in-council, which had been enacted into a law 

 of the Colony almost without alteration in 1824.°"° According to its pro- 

 visions all residents in the Turks Islands were allowed to rake salt in the 

 ponds. The ponds were taken possession of and operated in the name of 

 the Crown. They were divided into shares which were distributed annually 

 to those having head-rights. A master of slaves was entitled to a share for 

 each slave he owned, excepting banished criminals. After the abolition of 

 slavery, an apprentice was entitled in his own right to one-sixth of a share.*" 

 Five commissioners were annually elected by the inhabitants of Grand Cay, 

 and three by those of Salt Cay, who regulated the ponds and apportioned the 

 shares to those who were entitled to them. Persons intending to rake salt 

 were required to appear before these commissioners " with their companies " 

 within twenty days after the annual election. The commissioners opened 

 canals at their discretion; appointed measurers of salt and personally super- 

 vised the measurement of the product; and together with the commander, 

 they heard complaints of misconduct of rakers and imposed penalties on 

 offenders against the regulations. No person engaged in the industry was 

 allowed to work on both cays during the same year. All work was required 



"'■ Balfour to Rice, No. 39. 



«»=H. v., 1848 (app.), pp. 22-23. 



'^ See 4 Geo. IV, 5. This Order-in-council was sent out in 1781. 



'^'Loc. cit., and Ds., S. St., 1843, No. 127.. 



