The first witness who came forward to speak of the obligation to
deliver the fish to the landlord was Laurence Mail, who was not
summoned, and his evidence shows how naturally this grievance is
connected with the system of Truck. He says:-
'559. What is the complaint you wish to make?-There is one
thing we complain of: that we are bound to deliver our fish, wet or
green, to the landlord.'
'560. That is, you have to deliver the fish as they are caught?-
Yes; of course we have to take out the bowels and cut off the
heads: it is the bodies of the fish we give. We think it would be
much better if we had liberty to dry the fish ourselves, as we used
to do formerly.'
'561. To whom are you bound to give your fish?-To Mr. Bruce,
our landlord.'
'562. Is he a fish-curer or fish-merchant?-Yes.'
'563. Is it Mr. Bruce or his son that you are speaking of?-It is
young Mr. Bruce. He is the landlord or tack-master. His father is
alive; but I think young Mr. Bruce has got power from his father to
engage the tenants according to his own pleasure.'
'564. Do you pay your rent to young Mr. Bruce?-Yes.'
'565. And does he give you a receipt for it in his own name?-We
settle once a year with him for our fishing, and for the store goods
we have got, and rent and everything together.'
'566. Do you get an account for the whole?-He generally gives us
a copy of our account. Sometimes, perhaps, he does not do so; but
he will give it if we ask for it ....'
'568. Is that all you have got to say on the subject of your
complaint?-No; I have something more. Of course, as we are
bound to fish for Mr. Bruce, a man, unless he has money of his
own, is shut up to deal at Mr. Bruce's shop. His credit is gone at
every other place, and that binds us to take our goods from his
store; and generally the goods there are sold at the highest value.'
In the case of the Sumburgh tenants, who are above two
hundred in number, there was a period of freedom, following a
general increase of rent; but about 1862 the son of the landlord
began business as a fish-merchant, and as a preparation for that
obtained a lease of the southern portion of his father's estate.
Intimation of the trick was made to the tenants; and it appears to
have been intimated at the same time that the tenants must deliver
their fish to young Mr. Bruce, the tacksman. Some of the tenants
were required to sign an obligation so to deliver their fish. The
merchants who had previously had stores on Mr, Bruce's property
were removed.
[L. Mail, 625; G. Williamson, 4961; H. Gilbertson, 4575; J.
Harper, 4507; G. Leslie, 4612; R. Halcrow, 4646, 4656; L. Smith
4720; A. Tulloch, 468; T. Aitken, 4803-4835; L. Mail, 639]