574. Was there any meeting on the subject?-Yes; there was a
meeting held last Friday night.
575. What were the names of the men who said they were afraid to
come?-There was one Sinclair Cheyne: he said that perhaps they
might get their warning; and I think Robert Malcolmson also
signified something of the same kind. However, I know it was the
general feeling among the whole lot of them.
576. Was there any particular ground stated for that
apprehension?-I don't know. Of course every one suspected that
if the landlord heard that they were coming forward with any case
against him, he would warn them out. That was the general
suspicion.
577. Has the landlord or his factor ever told you that a man not
dealing at the store, or refusing to deliver his fish to him (the
landlord), would be turned out of his farm?-The landlord never
told me exactly that if I did not fish for him I would be turned out,
but I have seen an evidence of that in the case of a neighbour.
578. What was the name of that neighbour?-James Harper. His
son dried a few hundredweight of fish for himself and gave them
to Mr. Bruce, and on that account his father was warned.
579. Do you say that the father was warned although the son gave
the fish to Mr. Bruce?-Yes, he gave then to him dried; and
because he did not give them to him wet, his father was warned.
580. When was that?-I think it was seven or eight years ago; and,
if I am not mistaken, the father had to pay 30s. so that he might sit
still.