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CHANNEL ISLANDS.
that those who have spent half a lifetime as artificers
either in the other islands, or in England, return to
Serk, and turn their talents, if not to their own profit,
to that of their countrymen.
The people of Serk have few temptations to immorality;
and are rather a religiously disposed people:
this at least is certain, that they are regular attendants
of public worship. The incumbency of Serk, is a
perpetual curacy, in the nomination of the seigneur
—who however, has no power of removing a minister
whom he has appointed. There is no fixed stipend;
this being a matter of agreement between the minister,
and the patron, who pays him. The present incumbent
receives 80Z. per annum, and a free house. The
clmrch, erected in 1820, is a very neat and commodious
building. There is also a free school in the
island, attended by about seventy children. The
schoolmaster’s salary, is 33/.,—the produce of money
which was the overplus of a sum granted by the States
of Guernsey for the erection of the pier, and whicli is
lodged in the French funds.
h'Eperquerie.
C H A P T E R III.
The Agi-iculture of Serk—Live Stock—Civil Government—Manorial
Rights—Island Militia—The Harbour — Scenery—The
Isle of Brechnou—Historical Sketch—Singular Tradition—Geological
Notices.
I now proceed to speak briefly of the agriculture and
produce of this little island. Excepting close to the
coast, the soil of Serk is a rich deep loam, lying on a
bed of clay: in some parts, the substratum is gravel
and rock; but the soil is everywhere unusually fertile
—as some proof of which, I may state that in favourable
seasons, potato land has yielded three hundred
and fifty bushels, of sixty pounds per bushel, per English
acre; and fifty-eight bushels of wheat, imperial
measure, is no unusual produce.
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