582. Do you know anything about the case of a James Brown?-
Yes; it was reported, I believe, to Mr. Bruce that Brown had given
some fish to some other merchant, and directly his house was put
up for let.
583. In what way was it put up for let? Was it advertised?-Yes;
it was advertised at the store, as it was a public place.
584. Did you see the notice?-No; I did not see it, but I was
informed that some notice was put up. The thing was found out to
be false, and Brown got leave to stay where he was.
585. How long ago was that?-I could not exactly say, but I think
it was somewhere about eight or ten years ago.
586. Have you known of any person being warned off the ground
for not dealing at the store?-No; there is no compulsion about
that. We have liberty to deal at any place we like; but when our
credit is cut off the way I have mentioned, there is no use in having
that liberty.
587. You say your credit is cut off because you are compelled to
fish for the landlord?-Yes.
588. Therefore that is virtually compulsion to deal at the store: is
that what you mean to say?-Yes; of course it comes to that.
Suppose we have liberty to deal at any place we like, still if a man
does not have money his credit is cut off with any other merchant,
so that he must deal at the landlord's store.
589. When you deliver your fish, do you get any money that you
want?-Yes. Mr. Bruce always gave me money when I wanted it,
if he had money of mine in his hands; indeed he always gave me
what money I asked, whether I had any to get or not. I always
found him very generous in that way.
590. Therefore, whenever you wanted money for your fish you got
it, even although it was a long time before settling day?-Yes; Mr.
Bruce will give money at any time throughout the whole season,
especially to men that he knows have it to get.
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