Helmsdale, Sutherland c. 1840s
Concerning Helmsdale c. late 1840s
From this it would appear that poor Helmsdale is considered by Lycurgus (here meaning Factor Gunn) Gunn as a sort of penal settlement, to which persons living ''in a most disgraceful manner'' elsewhere may be banished, getting, however, a bonus of ''free houses'' and gratuitous bait for transferring their alleged immorality to another quarter. It is curious enough, too, that Helmsdale, so lauded as a fishing station, is absolutely void of a single fishing boat for ordinary service - the herring fishing being only for a short season, and carried on by unskilled hands...
Page 28, T. Mulock, The Western Highlands and islands of Scotland, Socially Considered, with reference to Proprietors and People; Being a series of Contributions to the Periodical Press, Edinburgh, John Menzies, 1850
Page 28, T. Mulock, The Western Highlands and islands of Scotland, Socially Considered, with reference to Proprietors and People; Being a series of Contributions to the Periodical Press, Edinburgh, John Menzies, 1850