From times immemorial, the people from Solund have bartered and sold their produce in Bergen and in communities along the Sognefjord. The cargo vessels they used were smaller and easier to navigate than the heavy vessels from Nordland and Møre which could be seen in shipping lanes. They were rigged with white square sails, home made of flax or hemp.
A short distance to Shetland and a rugged coastline with good harbours and excellent hiding places for people and vessels were the reasons why Solund became so important in the traffic to England during the Second World War. A total of 70 - 80 women and men from Solund got across to Shetland in this way.
During the 30-year period 1860-1890 around eighty people from Solund moved north to fishing stations in Namdalen and Nordland. Their main reason was that the spring herring had disappeared from the western coast.