CHANNEL ISLANDS

or ISLES NORMAN DES, Brit. islands in Eng. Channel (49° 20" N., 2° 20’ W.), off coast of Normandy; lar, cost are Jersey, Guernlarge quantities of fruit, flowers, and vegetables, exported to England; imyortant cod, lobster, and oyster fisheries; mous for special kind of cattle, each island having its particular strain; Climate mild. The islands are a favorite summer resort of Fr. and Eng. tourists, and are surrounded by reefs on which many shipwrecks have taken place. Jersey and Guernsey (the latter including Alderney and Sark) are each administered according to their own laws by a military lieutenant-governor and a bailiff (who presides over the parliament or ‘states’), appointed by the crown. Alderney has a parliament, and both Alderney and Sark have courts of justice subordinate to Guernsey. Jersey and Guernsey have local copper coinage. Taxes and customs duties are very low. History.—Channel Islands are said to haye been inhabited succe ively by Celts, Romans, Saxons, Goths, and Franks in early times; granted to Dukes of Normandy in 10th cent.; united with Eng. crown since Norman Conquest; frequently invaded by French (otably in 1461 and 1781), who, however, failed to subjugate them. Inhabitants are of Norman stock; official language is French, though English is taught in schools; the country people speak a Norman-French dialect. Religion, Protestant ism. Militia service is compulsory. Area, 75 sq. m.; pop. 96,900.