In the past Guernsey men earned their living in many ways - from privateering and entrepot trade to growing dessert grapes for the tables of Victorian England. Tourism also began in a small way in the mid-19th century.

Fishing: Guernsey's centuries old fishing industry has a modern new look with new boats lying alongside the recently constructed Fish Quay in St.Peter Port.

The major catch is crabs and lobsters, most of which are exported to France. Fish farming of shellfish has also developed, notably of oysters and the Islands own special delicacy, the ormer. The fishermen especially supply the local market so there are always fresh scallops, turbot, brill, sole, lobster and crab on the table.

Growing is our heritage: Cut flowers are the islands leading horticultural export with some one million boxes sent to market each year. Guernsey could be called Britain's flower garden, as it supplies two-thirds of the freesias sold in the UK, as well as some 10% of the carnation market and 30% for roses. Also blooming is the postal flowers trade and sales through supermarkets. On the island, flowers can often seen for sale direct from growers on roadside stalls as well as brightening up the flower and vegetable markets in St.Peter Port.

The horticultural industry has a long heritage going back over 200 years to the first attempts to grow grapes in glasshouses. This became the first major horticultural crop, although a small trade in flowers and bulbs grown in gardens in the Island's mild climate developed first. After grapes, the Island's growers switched to the production of tomatoes at the turn of the last century and it is this crop that became so famous as the "Guernsey Tom". In the 1950's and 60's the tomato industry grew so much that virtually 15% of the surface of the Island was covered with glass.

Fierce competition from other countries caused the Islands growers to switch in the 80's into flower production and now, although smaller in size, the industry is still a significant export earner for the Island. Growers operate from increasingly modern, computer controlled nurseries which are very different from the wooden framed lean-to vineries used for grapes, but whose name is still used to this day by locals to describe their glasshouses.

Dairy Farming: Dairy farming is important to the economy because the island is self-sufficient in milk. Local cheese, butter and yoghurt, as well as cream, are produced at the States-run dairy. Only the world-famous breed of Guernsey dairy cow is allowed here and, as you will see, some farmers still tether their animals in the fields to "ration" grazing.

A tourist resort: Guernsey has grown steadily in popularity since World War II, but the authorities have been watchful to see that the island does not become too commercialised. All hotel, guest house and self-catering accommodation is officially registered and inspected and graded annually. Guernsey was a pioneer of hotel grading in the British Isles, adopting its own "Crown" system and it is this policy that has helped to develop tourism into an industry worth in the region of £100 million per year.

Sophisticated light industries: Since 1960 light industry has become an important element in the island's prosperity with over 70 firms manufacturing a surprising variety of products. These range from printing, pharmaceuticals and plastics to computer software, sonars, medical diagnosis equipment, communications and test equipment and electronics. Older established crafts include boat building and textiles whilst the quality of Guernsey's individual craftsmen from silversmiths to glassblowers is highly esteemed.

The island is also home to a growing range of "non-financial" services, providing worldwide sales, marketing and distribution facilities for international companies. The education and ability demanded in these fields and available in Guernsey is mirrored by the great success of the financial services industry.

Guernsey's offshore banking: Guernsey's offshore banking and insurance fund management activities, strictly regulated by law, have made the island a major player on the international financial scene. Over 50 different banking groups are active in the Bailiwick with deposits reaching £40 billion by mid-1994. Over 300 investment funds cater for over 100,000 investors around the World, a dozen offshore life companies provide investment products for expatriates and over 260 industrial and commercial groups have their own "captive" insurance companies in the Island. Financial services on the whole provide about 55 per cent of the Island's income from abroad.

The island's favourable tax climate has attracted many well-to-do settlers who have benefited the community by bringing money into the island. The islands "rentier" income accounts for 19 per cent of GNP.