I imagine the first question anyone will ask is what is a column called "Scottish Flotsam". I guess we will have to begin with what is "flotsam". Among the definitions of the word are "things washed ashore" or "miscellaneous trifles". Well, we believe you can find some great treasure on the ocean shore. But -- you will never know what you will find or its value. So we decided that is what this column is - flotsam. We wanted a place to put things that didn't fit anywhere else and might be of interest. Each item could be a column itself and might be some day but for now it will be the flotsam, which washes our way.

Scottish emigration must be seen as part of the great European exodus since the eighteenth century to areas of recent white settlement - mainly but not exclusively in North America, Australasian and South Africa. It was at first a response to rural population pressure, a decline in mortality, changes in land use (such as enclosure) and eviction - typified by the Highland clearances, but also occurring in the Lowlands. Emigration from Scotland began early by European standards, and the country shares second place numerically with Norway - Ireland being the clear leader.

The roots of emigration and colonization lie in the early seventeenth century. Plantation in Ulster and long-traditional connections with England and Continental Europe. The Nova Scotia colony (established 1629) was the earliest Scottish settlement of any size in the New World, but it was soon followed by others elsewhere in the American colonies. Emigration to North America gathered pace after 1750, with substantial Highland migration to British North America, and especially to Canada following the American War of Independence. The Earl of Selkirk (1771-1820) was one of many landowners who encourage Scottish migration to Canada - a favoured destination at the time.

The momentum was maintained throughout the nineteenth and into the early twentieth century - peaking in 1850s, 1880s, early 1900s and during the depression of the 1920s. North America was the most significant destination throughout, though Australia and New Zealand were also important and Scots contributed substantially to the development of both countries. After World War II emigration continued at a high level in the later 1940s and during the 1950s - the majority settling in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand under government-sponsored migration schemes.

Bumstead, J., The People's Clearnace, Edinburgh University Press, 1982
Cage, R., The Scots Abroad: Labour, Capital, Enterprise, 1750 - 1914, Croom Helm, 1985
Donaldson, G., The Scots Overseas, Robert Hale, 1966
Prentis, M., The Scots in Australia, Sydney University Press, 1983.

Now lets look at some specific dates:

1357 - November 6
Parliament of David II ordered that ale and bread-merchants should not try to make a killing by overcharging visitors to Scotland.

1934 - November 11
Wick harbour revenue was showing a substantial drop because of the failure of the herring fishing.

1854 -November 18
Glasgow horse-cabbies planned a series of Sunday strikes but promised to help in life-or-death situations.

1973 - November 25
Scots drivers ignored a Government plea to conserve fuel during the current shortage by doing without their traditional Sunday run.

Source - Scotching the Myths by Jim Hewiston can be found in the History Book Section of Scottish Radiance.

It is time to stop combing the library but we can not quit without some quotes from The Pocket Book of Scottish Quotations another great History bookshelf resident. Let's see what quotes we can find.

Pleasures and Pastimes

There's some are fou' o' love divine;
There's some are fou' o' brandy;
And many jobs that day begin,
May end in 'houghmagandie'
Some ither day
Robert Burns The Holy Fair

Am fear leis am fuar, fuaigheadhe e.

He that's cold, let him sew (make clothes)

You can find more articles in the archive under Scottish Flotsam.