527. Do you run an account there?-Sometimes we do, and
sometimes not; but we have not much to do with Messrs. Hay on
that footing.
528. You said that your reason for coming here and offering to
give evidence to-day was, that you were afraid of young Mr. Bruce
taking the fishing into his own hands?-Yes; that is the thing we
find to be most oppressive, if it was coming to be the case.
529. Is it the general opinion in the country that he has undertaken
to manage the fishings on his father's estates?-He addressed
himself so in the note he gave us. He called himself general
merchant and fish-curer.
530. Did he give you intimation of that one year at rent time?-
Yes; that was last year.
531. But he has not yet taken the management of the fishing at
Cunningsburgh?-No.
532. Has he fishing establishments elsewhere?-He has-at
Dunrossness. He has taken all the tenants there into his own
hands. The property, I daresay, is twice as large as
Cunningsburgh.
533. Do you know from your own knowledge whether the tenants
there are obliged to fish for him?-Yes; they are fishing to
himself.
534. Have they no choice but to fish for him?-I don't think it. As
far as my knowledge goes, they have not.
535. Are you acquainted with any of the fishermen there?-I know
a little about them, from passing them on the road.
536. Have they ever complained to you about the state of matters
at Dunrossness?-I cannot say much about that, except that they
think they would have been fully better with their freedom.
537. Have they not got their freedom?-They cannot have their
freedom when they are fishing to him.
538. But they may fish to him of their own free will?-They
might; but I think he has gripped them so that they cannot have
their freedom.
539. That, however, is only your own supposition?-I think it is
true. It is so true that both the merchant and us are afraid that he
will grip us too.
Lerwick, January 1, 1872, SIMON LAURENSON, examined.