Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 04.djvu/567

* CHANLER. 487 return to the United States, he entered political life and befanie a member of the Xew York State Legislature, from the Fiftli A-^embly District in ISilT. and from the Fourteenlh in ISUD. He serveil with special commendation from Shaf- ter. general in command, in the battles before Santiauci, tuba (duly 1-2, 1898). CHANXIEU, sh-inlye'. Grn.LAiME Amfrye (ll>39-1720). A French poet, born at Fontenay Vexin Xormandl. He was one of the dissolute ablii's so common at that period of French litera- ture, and was called by his contemporaries 'L'Anacn'on du Temple.' 'oltaire speaks highly of liis verses, which have a grace and facility that make them still read. The best edition is that of the Jlarquis de la Fari (1774). CHANNEL, OF a STREAif. The hollow or de- pression between the banks thiongh wliidi the water Hows. A river may have several channels in parts of its course. In such a case, the main channel has been defined by judicial authority to be "that bed of the river over which the principal volume of water flows." It may or mar not be coincident with the deepest water or the" best currents for navigation. See Ripariax RlGHTS: IIIVER. CH ANNEX,, or CHANNELING (OF. ihaiiel. from Lat. caiialis. groove, connected with Skt. khnii. OPers. kiiii, to dig). The name given to the curved grooves of columns which are cut in parallel rows. It is usual to distinguish the channels in a Doric column, which adjoin one another, from the (lutes of the Ionic and Corin- thian columns, which are separated by an arris. See Ciii I'MN. CHANNEL. See ExGLlsn Cha:«xel. CHANNEL BASS. A sciaenid fish. See Red- fish. CHANNELBILL. A large Australian cuck- oo (.Scr/(/i)o;/.s Soiis-EoUaiuJa: . having a very large and curiously grooved beak, so that it was long considered a species of hornbill. See Plate of CrcKoos. CHANNEL CAT. See Catfishes. CHANNELING-MACHINES. See Quaery- I.N(,. CHANNEL ISLANDS i Fr. VArchipel de la Mainhc, tlic Cliannd Archipelago). A group of islands geographically connected with France, but politically attached to Great Britain, in the English Channel, to the west of the peninsula of Cotentin. The islands lie 10 to .SO miles distant from the Xormandy coast, and 50 to 120 miles south of the English coast (Map: France, D 2). They comprise .Jersey. Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark, and a number of islets. Their combined area is about 7;> square miles. Famous for their strategic position. histors, an- tiquities, genial climate, and picturesque and varied scenery, tJicy constitute favorite and fasli- ionable resorts for English. French, and even American invalids and tourists. The small and highly cultivated farm lioldings. ranging from 5 to 12 acres, and the good military roads, give the islands the ap[>earance of carefully laid out pleas- ure grounds, and gained from Victor Hugo, long a resident, the designation of 'ganlens of the sea.' Tle principal industry is agriculture. The soil produces good crops; horticulture and floriculture flourish, potatoes are exten-.ivcly cultivated for exportation, the annual yield in .Jersey exceeding CHANNEL ISLANDS, 60,000 tons, valued at .$1,320,000, while Guernsey supplies J^ondon and Paris with enormous quanti- ties of fruit, grown under glass. The chief fertilizer is rniic, or seaweed, the regular gath- ering of which, controlled by legislation, is one of the characteristic insular scenes. A large quantity is used in the manufacture of kelp and iodine, it.s value to Guernsey being estimated at .'?1.jO.O0 annually. The three larger islands are noted for distinctive breeds of cattle, the purity of each breed being jealously gimrded; they are remarkable for their small size, symmetry, color, and beauty, and for the yield and quality of their milk, making dairy farming a profitable industry. There are important fisheries of turbot, .John Dory, conger-eels, oysters, lobsters, monster crabs, etc. The quarries of Jersey and Guernsey are extensively worked and export line granite for building purposes. There is daily communi- cation by steamers with various itnglisli and Frencli ports, and an average of .'iOOO vessels of 200,000 gross tonnage enter and clear the Chan- nel Island ports annually. The geology of the islands is particularly in- teresting in the primary formation of granite rocks : vegetation is rich and varied, and scien- tists here find a comprehensive field of study in a small compass. The coasts are rocky and danger- ous, and the tidal currents treacherous; light- houses stand on the more important lieadlands and outlying reefs. The population in 1001 was 1I.1.S41. "The chief town is Saint Helier, on the island of .Jersey. Among the farming ' popula- tion the vernacular language is old Xorman French, which differs in peculiarities of spelling
 * ind pronunciation in each island, and even in

parisiies of the same island. The English lan- guage predominates in the town districts, which contain a large proportion ot British and many French residents. Officially attached to Hamp- shire. England, and the diocese of Winchester, llie islands are self-governed and afford interest- ing examples of home rule, forming, as Freeman states, 'distinct commonwealths.' They comprise the two bailiwicks of .Jersey and Guernsey — the latter including Alderney, Sark, Herm, and ad- jacent isles each presided over by a 'bailiff' or chief magistrate of native extraction appointed by the British Crown, and assisted by a "States' or Legislative Assembly, comi)rising 'jurats' or magistrates, the rectors of the parishes, all life ofiicers, the 'constables' or parochial mayors, and a number of 'deputies' or representatives elected for a term. .Judicial affairs are managed by a royal court, consisting of the bailiff and jurats, wlio thus lill the anomalous dual positions of law-makers and law-dispensers. The British Government is represented by lieutenant-gover- nors, generally army officers of distinction, who are appointed for five years, command the mili- tary forces in the islands, have the right of veto and an equal seat with the baililV in the States -Assembly, but no vote. French is the official language of the legislatures and courts, but after long opposition the optional use of English has been adopted. There are also ecclesiastical courts. Taxation is light, living is inexpensive, but military service at fixed periods is compul- sory on all male natives and residents from Ifl to 00 years of age. The laws of the islands are derived from the Cniitiiiiiier ile Xonnandic, the islands having once formed part of the Duchy of Normandy.