6574. Do you think you have that in your power by the terms of their leases?-I think there is only man who has a lease at present.
6575. Or by the terms of the contract under which they sit on the land?-I think that is understood.
6576. That is a part of their bargain?-It is not part of their bargain, but I think it is understood.
6577. When a man is in your debt in the way you have spoken of, do you think he has a stronger inducement to deal at your shop for the goods he requires, and to agree to fish for you during the following season, than another man who is not in debt?-I am not very sure about that.
6578. I suppose you would consider it fair that man who is in your debt should deliver his fish to you rather than to another, in order that he might pay off your debt?-Certainly.
6579. And also that he should take his supplies from your shop, so far as necessary?-Yes, I would expect that.
6580. Is it also the feeling among the men generally, that they are inclined to deal with a person who has advanced them money or goods in a bad season? [Page 160]-I think they would have no objection to deal in that way.
6581. You I would probably have rather to keep them within limits in their dealing, for fear they should get too much?-Yes, I think that is quite right.
6582. Perhaps they have no credit elsewhere?-I daresay they might have credit elsewhere too. Probably they might have other things, such as produce of different kinds from their farms with which to clear off their small accounts in other quarters, and which might not come my way.
6583. Do you not deal considerably in farm produce yourself?- Yes; in cattle and other things.
6584. Do you send them south?-Yes.
6585. Do you purchase these generally for cash, or do your purchases in that way enter the accounts of the men who fish for you?-That just depends on the way the men want them. I make a practice of purchasing all stock for cash; but if they wanted it entered in their accounts, I do so.
6586. Are these purchases generally made at periodical sales?- Yes, we have two sales in the year at Ollaberry; but I purchase a good many cattle and horses just at any place where I can get them through the parish.
6587. Suppose you made purchases of that kind from a man who owed you a certain amount in your books, would these purchases enter your books to his credit, or would they be paid in cash?- That will depend upon our bargain. If a man said to me, I have a cow to sell, and one part of the price I want to go to pay my rent, and the other part I want put into my account, I would do that for him. I have done that frequently, although the man was in my debt.
6588. You said there were 120 fishermen in your books at Hillswick?-That was a mere random guess; I could not speak to it positively.
6589. Have you a number of men in your books at other places?- Yes, at Ollaberry; but that shop is under a different firm Anderson & Co.
6590. Is that shop kept by Mr. Irvine?-Yes.
6591. Do you take the princ.i.p.al oversight of the business there?-I do.
6592. Then, when you spoke of the fishermen on the Ollaberry estate being obliged to fish to you, I suppose you meant that they were bound to fish for that firm?-Yes.
6593. Is there any other station besides Ollaberry where you have a shop and fishermen upon your books?-No other station, except the fishing stations I have already mentioned.
6594. These are not permanent establishments, but are only kept up for the summer season?-There is a man who takes winter fish at Stenness and at Hamnavoe.
6595. But there are not so many men residing there?-No.
6596. And it is only from those who reside on the spot there that you receive fish in winter?-Yes.
6597. How many men may be engaged in the fishing at the Ollaberry station, and who are entered in your books as employed by you?-Probably between 50 and 60.
6598. Then you may have about 300 fishermen the summer fishing, including the other stations you have mentioned?-I think scarcely so many.
6599. One of the books which you have produced here is a woman"s book?-Yes.
6600. That has relation to hosiery and kelp?-Yes.
6601. You have not brought any books relating to the fishing business, but I suppose you will be ready to show them if you are asked?-Certainly.
6602. In what way do you engage your beach boys?-Some of them are engaged about December, but perhaps it is the spring before we get them all. We engage them for an annual fee,-that is to say, a fee for three months in summer, or for summer and harvest. The rates we pay them vary from about 45s. to 10 for time summer and harvest.
6603. Do those to whom you pay 10 have charge of the curing?- Yes; I have given the whole range.
6604. There are two cla.s.ses of them-the beach-boys proper, and the men who are skilled at the work?-Yes; and the man who has charge of the curing.
6605. Are both those cla.s.ses settled with at the end of the year?- Yes.
6606. Do the men employed in the curing get payment before the end of the year?-No.
6607. I believe at some establishments the men employed are paid by weekly wages?-I am not aware of that.
6608. Do you open an account with them in the same way as with the other people employed by you?-Yes.
6609. And if they want supplies they get them at your shop?-Yes.
6610. Do you find that the amount of debt upon these accounts is greater or less than in the case of ordinary fishermen?-We generally strive not to allow them to get into debt.
6611. I don"t mean the amount of debt above their salary, but the amount of debt they incur for furnishings in the course of the year: is that greater or less than the amount due to them for their fee?-I think it is generally less, taking the whole cases together. There may be some cases where they fall behind little, but there are others again who have money to get.
6612. Have they generally a considerable balance to receive in money at the end of the year?-No; when boy has paid for his clothes and provisions, he will not have very much to receive.
6613. Does a beach boy generally require an outfit of clothing at the beginning?-Yes.
6614. Is it the sons of your fishermen whom you generally employ as beach boys?-Very often, but not necessarily; I just engage any one I can get.
6615. Is there a sufficient supply of them?-There has always been hitherto.
6616. When a boy who is engaged for the first year gets more goods than the amount of his fee, does he usually engage to work for you in the same employment next year?-No.
6617. You are aware, I suppose that that has been alleged as the commencement of the system of debt which is said to prevail in Shetland?-I am perfectly aware of that.
6618. Is it not consistent with your experience that a boy who overdraws his account in that way continues to serve you as a beach boy?-I am sorry to say it is not, because sometimes he goes elsewhere and leaves a balance standing.
6619. Is that a frequent thing?-I cannot say it is a very frequent thing. I am glad to say that a great amount of honesty prevails among the people generally.
6620. But is it not quite possible that he might go elsewhere and pay his account to you from the wages he receives elsewhere?-It is quite possible.
6621. Does that ever happen?-I think it has happened with me.
6622. Is a boy free to do that if he chooses?-Perfectly free.
6623. But, in point of fact, do the majority of boys who are so engaged, and who overdraw their accounts during the first year, remain in your service and work on until their account is paid up?-I could scarcely say that that is so with the majority.