The Congested Districts Board was constituted under the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act, 1897 to take such steps as they thought proper for aiding and developing agriculture; providing seeds, implements and machinery; providing land for sub-division among crofters and cottars in congested districts; aiding migration of crofters and cottars from congested districts to other places in Scotland; aiding and developing fishing; aiding the providing or improving of lighthouses, piers or boat-slips, public roads or bridges; aiding and developing spinning, weaving and other home industries and subject to the consent of Treasury, aiding the providing or improving of harbours. The functions of the Congested Districts Board were transferred to the Board of Agriculture for Scotland in terms of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911.