76 A Survey and Report of the Coasts 



I have received tends to conlirm the justice of the com-* 

 plaints against the laws now in force which regard salt. 



As to the fourth object, the harbour of Wick in Caith- 

 ness, which I examined, estimated, and reported upon last 

 year, will remove the just complaints of want of protection 

 on the X. E. coast. 



The Emigrations. 



That emiorations have already taken place from various 

 parts of the llighlands, is a fact upon which there does not 

 remain room to doubt : from the best information 1 have 

 been able to procure, about three thousand persons went 

 away in the course of last year ; and, if I am rightly in- 

 formed, three times that number ai-e preparing to leave the 

 country in the present year. 



I shall not encroach upon your lordships' time by inves- 

 tigatinii all the remote or unimportant collateral causes of 

 emigration, but shall proceed to that which I consider to 

 be the most powerful in its present operation ; and that is, 

 converting large districts of the country into extensive 

 sheepwalks. This not only requires much fewer people to 

 manage the same tract of country, but in general an entirely 

 new people, who have been accustomed to this mode of life, 

 arc brought from the southern parts of Scotland. 



The ditierence of rents to the landlords between sheep 

 and black cattle is, I understand, at least three to one, and 

 vet on account of the extraordinary rise in the prices of 

 sheep and wool, the sheep farmers have of late years been 

 acquiring wealth. As the introducino- sheep farms over 

 countries heretofore stocked with black cattle creates an 

 extensive demand for the young sheep from the esta- 

 blished farms, it is possible that the high prices may con- 

 tinue until a considerable portion of the country is fully 

 stocked : after this takes place, the quantities of sheep pro- 

 duced will bear a very great proportion to the demand, and 

 then itjis possible the pric^es may fall below the average va- 

 lue: in this case it is probable the farms will be subdivided, 

 and a proportion of black cattle and cultivation be intro- 

 duced in the lower grounds in the vallevs, while the upper 

 parts of the hills continue to be pastured wifli sheep. This 

 I consider as the most improved state of Highland farming, 

 and is consistent with a very considerable population : a 

 beautiiul instance of this is to be seen along the north side 

 of Loch Tay. But improved connnunicalions, by means of 

 roads and bridges, are necessary for this state of society; and 

 lor this reason I have said, that if these conveniences had 



been 



