the salt industry began in 1769 providing anguilla with an export. this industry was based in the village known as "sandy ground", which is situated on a stretch of sand between the large road salt pond and road bay. anguilla has roughly of salt ponds, less than half of that of the turks and caicos. although it lacked plantations and had smaller salt ponds, the salt industry benefited from close proximity to demerrara, trinidad, barbados, antigua and st. kitts. schooners returning to canada from these colonies would make a last stop in anguilla or st. martin to purchase salt. these ships would jettison their ballast in road bay as the salt was loaded on board. the granite rocks used as ballast accumulated at the northern end of road bay and formed a reef known locally as "the ballast".