Acklins and Crooked Islands consisted of a group of islands semi-encircling a large, shallow lagoon called the Bight of Acklins, of which the largest are Crooked Island in the north and Acklins in the south-east, and the smaller are Long Cay (once known as Fortune Island) in the north-west, and Castle Island in the south.
Columbus sailed down the leeward side of the islands in 1492, passing through the Crooked Island Passage, which later became a major highway for Spanish treasure fleets. Columbus called the islands the ‘Fragrant Isles,’ perhaps because of the aromatic scent of the cascarilla tree’s bark, also called ‘Eluethera bark.’
The islands were settled by American Loyalists in the late 1780s who set cotton plantations employing over 1,000 slaves. After the abolition of slavery in the British Empire these became uneconomical, and the replacement income from sponge diving has now dwindled as well. The inhabitants now live by fishing and small-scale farming.
The main town in the group is Colonel Hill on Crooked Island. Albert Town, on Long Cay was engaged in the sponge and salt industries and also served as a transfer port for stevedores seeking work on passing ships.
Islands
- Acklins Island
- Crooked Island
- Long Cay