Ragged Island Ragged Island Salt Ponds

These salt ponds are remnants of the thriving salt industry that formerly existed on Ragged Island. It was developed by Duncan Taylor and his brother Major Taylor, who came here from Long Island in the 19th Century. Salt collection today is done to a lesser degree. The largest reservoir is owned by the Government and persons are employed to manage it. Other sections are family plots which are passed on to heirs. Producing salt is very simple; rain water settles in the ponds and salt forms as it evaporates. The ponds do not produce any salt if there is no rain. During harvest season (April through August), salt is piled in heaps using wooden rakes, left in rocky areas to dry, packaged for sale locally, or sent to market in the nations capital.