Sir, – What in this world is a crofter? As one gets older and remembers that 40 years ago a large number of people gained income only from the croft, alas that is not what is happening today, most crofters especially in the Uists, have one or more jobs than just the croft.
I can only recall a very low number of persons that have got their entire income from the croft and that the wife didn’t work, traditionally staying at home to raise the family and help the husband; there is only one and he lives in North Uist, no one put a stamp on his card, yes there are others, but most are single men and women.
So, today, we class a crofter as someone that works elsewhere on £25k or £50k, has a few sheep, does the show circuit and taps into all the environment grants, and probably is the worst neighbour.
Then there are some who don't keep sheep and don't use the common grazings.
OK, the Crofting Commission says that as shareholders they must, but does anyone know how to get blood from a stone? No wonder no one wants to be on a committee or serve as a clerk!
As we approach the election of crofting commissioners,we wait in awe to see what the Crofting Commission is going to be like as most of the ‘crofters’ are all well heeled. 
What kind of vision have they got, or as the call has gone out, will we see the end of the CC? What will the SCF do then? 
What will the new age crofters that make up the bulk of their members do?
Did the real crofters of 1886 ever dream that this is what they fought for?
I see the SNP Government disbanding the CC and labelling it into the land reform brief.
The language we had, Gaelic, is also about extinct; parents that are fluent are speaking English to their children as they want to be posh.
When my generation goes and no more Euro money, in the next 10 years, this way of life will be gone.
Just as well for SNH to put in their order for exotic animals, they can make cases that tourists will come and see wolves, bear, lynx, etc!
And maybe I wonder, a crofter living off the land!
A Macdonald, 
Balivanich, 
Benbecula