In the matter of hours of sunshine the islands come out a long way ahead of even Devon and Cornwall, as statistics show that for every hundred hours these counties can boast of bright sunshine, the Channel Islands can show nearly one hundred and forty.

The cost of living on the islands is, taken altogether, less than in England; but in the matter of house rent, is somewhat higher.  Meat of all kinds is a trifle dearer per pound than in England; but when it is taken into consideration that the Channel Islands’ pound is about seventeen and three-quarter ounces of our avoirdupois weight, there is little, if any difference in the prices.  Fruit and fish are remarkably good and cheap.  The produce in the markets of Guernsey and Jersey are an unusual sight to visitors, for the fruit is placed for customers’ inspection just as it is gathered, so that the plums, grapes, etc., retain their bloom and look a perfect picture.  The fish is brought in straight from the sea, still retaining its iridescent hues, and there is no need to enquire further if they are fresh, as they, to put it metaphorically, speak for themselves.  Coal has to be imported from England and Belgium, and is therefore somewhat expensive; but it must be remembered that the climate, being so mild, does not necessitate so much being consumed.

Wines and spirits are now, since the imposition of a Duty only a trifle lower in price than in England, but perhaps of inferior quality.  Tobacco and cigars are ridiculously cheap, but not always nasty, because of their cheapness.  Anyone content to smoke a cigar of fair quality may do so at a price about fifty per cent. less than in England; but if he is fastidious in his taste, and requires something superior, such as a genuine Havanna, he will look for it in vain.  Strangely enough he can be obliged at most cigar dealers with Havanna cigars at Havanna prices, but as the Customs pass very few of the genuine cigars, it is a mystery where they all come from.  Yet they say smuggling is a thing of the past!  Or do the gentle tradesmen, to discourage smuggling, manufacture their own Havannas?  Good tobacco, shag and bird’s-eye, may be had at eighteen pence per pound.

There are several routes to the Islands, the chief being in connection with our large railways, and are undoubtedly the quickest and most comfortable.  Those fond of the sea may make the trip from London by steamer any Saturday throughout the summer, a distance of nearly three hundred miles for about a sovereign for the return journey.  Another route, for Cornish people, is from Falmouth.  From Plymouth west of England residents can take passage by a comfortable steamer any Friday, which covers the distance to Jersey in about ten hours.  The route from Southampton is a favourite one, as although not the shortest sea route, it is within such a small railway journey of London as to be reached in about a couple of hours.  The distance by water by this route (one hundred and fifteen miles) does not apparently compare favourably with the eighty miles from Weymouth to Guernsey; but it must be remembered that the trip down the Southampton Water and along the shore of the Isle of Wight, till the Needles are passed, is all smooth sailing.  The actual distance on the open sea is therefore not very much further than by the Weymouth route.