Grand Bahama comm1922

Revenue

Trade

Imports: – All  from Nassau and consist of foodstuffs, clothing, liquor etc.
Exports: – Chiefly Sponge

Agriculture

This district is never reckoned as an / agricultural one, but those of the inhabitants who have a mind for agriculture, and use their energy are always satisfied.
The few amongst the many laboured with the poor soil and the result was that they reaped enough in Corn, Sweet Potatoes, peas, beans and cassava sufficient for their use, and with a little to spare for sale locally.
Onions: The usual results were reaped from the few small patches planted.
Cassava: large quantities of this is sown, This is a hard time food, and is much appreciated.
Sweet Potatoes: the sweet potato has done fairly well this year. Large quantities placed on the market for which the grower realize a good price. Sweet potatoes sold locally as high as 3 pence a pound.
Grape fruit: A very large crop this year, but nearly all had to be left on the trees. Vessels load were carried to Nassau, but could not be sold so had to be thrown overboard or brought back, and left to be rotted.
Sisal: this industry was very little sought after, owing to the very low price offered in the market. Just enough cleaned to make ropes. / for the use of native boats.

Education

The Board School was open 181 days during the year with an average daily attendance of 101.
The monthly average was as follows: Janurary, closed. February 84.7 March 86.2 April 79.4 May closed. June closed. July closed. August closed. September 123.1 October 104.7 November 109.3. December 102.2.
There are Grant in Aid Schools at West End, Water Cay, High Rock and Moore’s Island.

Fisheries

Sponging is the chief industry of this district and the only means of a livelihood of the male population. Everything is neglected for sponging, in spite of the fact that the prices offered in the market is so very low that it seems a miracle how the men can support a family, as most of them have large families.

Mail Service

The usual monthly service between here and Nassau has been regularly performed during the year by the schooner “Empress”. The Captain of the mail schooner has just bought a vessel / larger than the “Empress” by 8 tons, and is willing to put her into the service if some arrangements can be made with regards to more pay, as being a larger vessels, the more expense of running.

Crime

The District has been very quiet. 11 cases were reported during the year. They were disposed as follows. 1 dismissed for want of evidence, 8 fined and 2 local prison.

Societies

There are several Burial Societies in the district. They carry on their good work of aiding the sick and burying the dead. No definite amount has been received from any of them.

Public Works

The usual weeding and clearing of the Streets of the Township, and Country Roads are being carried out, also the weeding of Burial Grounds and cleaning of Public Wells.
Work was also done under the Out Island Improvement Act Fund and consisted chiefly of making and improving roads throughout the Entire district. /

Shipping Foreign

Entered 578 vessels = 4530 tons
Cleared 587    “       = 5241    “

Coastwise

Entered 246 vessels = 4635 tons
Cleared 255    “       = 2099   “

Meteorological

Barometer usual range 30.20
            highest 30.15 lowest 30.20
Temperature highest 94 lowest 52
Rainfall was 25.42. It rained on 65 days during the year.

General

The general health of the district throughout the year has been very good, with the exception of a few cases of diarrhoea and Itch.
During the month of October, the district was hard hit by the floods of rain which drowned almost everything in the fields, upon which the people were dependent: the Government came to their assistance by sending 100 sacks of provisions for of distribution. If not for this provisions the district would have face starvation because there was no hopes of anything coming forth, as the sponge prices fell so very low, and / this there only means of salvation.
Work under the Out Island Improvement Act was soon started after and this seem to brighten up things to a great extent, as the people had something to do, which they could earn a few shillings weekly.
The Commissioner made two tours of the district during the year, and it is pleasing to state that no case of any kind came before him, which goes to shew that the people must be very law abiding citizens.
The Commissioner’s Residence is in very bad condition. The entire woodwork of the building is rotten, there is not one good window or door in the building, and in many places in the piazza the wood has simply rotted away.
This place has been built for over 40 years, and the greater part of the woodwork was done by native pine, which after a few years becomes absolutely worthless.

C. W. O. Prudden
Commissioner