[4] From the turn of the century, many more permanent residents came to the village, mainly fishermen who bought rorbu cabins or built houses to settle there.

In the period from 1855–1935, 99 fishermen's huts were built on the bay, and the building activity coincided closely with years when there were large influxes of cod.

This significant investment was made because the municipality and the permanent residents considered the fishing village to be a viable community.

The village had modernized, with a post office, shop, school, fish factory, and regular ferry connections to the mainland.

The decline in the population had been surprisingly small up to that point, and Vikna Municipality was very interested in the continuation of the fishing industry at Sør-Gjæslingan.

In 1978, the owner went bankrupt, and the following year, Namsos Trafikkselskap closed down the regular boat route to the fishing village.