PEACEFUL HAVEN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 726, 29 December 1933, Page 2

PEACEFUL HAVEN

— ! TANGIER ISLE IN CHESAPEAEE BAY GIVES REST AND j SOLITUDE , ' AN INTERESTING CORNER (Qne of ihe most interesting- small ' corners of the world is Tangder Isflfand isitfuaitied ahotiltj ten ito twelve 'miles from, the town of Crisfield, r 'Maryland, U.S.A., an the lower jiorttioin of Chespeake Bay. To visit it, • ' imotorists are forced to leave their - catris behind on the mainland, as' 'the island will not permit the. use of motor-ears.' A- journey of almogt two .. ihours by hoat is required to reach' the island. After one reaehes the island, he. or 'she is well repaid for the rather Tengthy boat trip, as here is a paradise of peace and quiet. There is a /ciompleta laibsence of horses, huggies, itrolly cars, motor-ears -and omnibuses. • : Th'e 1200 inhahitants must do all their :travelling -by foot. John Smith Fo'iind It This island is approximately four qniles long by three wide-. It is under - the juri'sdiotion of the State of Vir- ' ginia and has been so ever since its discovery by Captain John Smibh in 1608. The first white settler, John Crockett lamided on the island in 1686. . •' Industries of the islapd comprise ■ fishing, tending oyster beds and. lobster pots, and clamming. Tangiermen are noted fis'hennen. iLiving conditions are tiniged with a ' distinct air of quaintness. In the 'first place, the miain street is only eight feet in width. This alone makes it naturally unfit for vehieular traffic, even should fbhere be any such. Th'e houses are all shingle and claphoard neatly painted and surrounded 'by white picket fences. A .peeuliar thdng about these fences is the fact that all the gates are hinged in recesses to prevent their swinging into Ibhe street. No Water System T'here is no water system on the island, and the natives are forced to xesort to primitive methods — eatch•dng the Rainfall. At the side of each i ( dwelling will be found a raiirn-water I cistern equipped with straining outfits. Uintil reeently all the lighting was done by oil lamps, hut the last few -years have seen the advent of an electrie light cahle whieh ibrings electricity from the mainland. There is no hospital -on the island, and the lone physician there can easily take care of the hardy fisher folk.

The "Sergeant" The police department consist of one man who goes under the title of "sergeant," He has little to do, las crime is virtually unknown. Mlost oif the time, this policeman may he fouimd taking part in the island's chief industry — fishing. iLiving costs are low, ias the people raise their own food' and of course th'e j isupply of fish is never low. Unemployment is also virtually unknown. The visitor to Tangier is assured of a very charming and picturesque sight. It has been visited hy persons from the world over, and everyone has been well repaid for the trip, whether he has come from, a distance of a few (hundreds miles or a few thousands. It is truly an island of