POTTINGER, James (analysis of his evidence, p. 336), is
a fisherman in Burra--lives with his father, who is a tenant there,
13,524; they spent upwards of £12 on repairs of house in 1865,
and in 1866 Messrs. Hay charged £1 extra for 'peat-leave'--he
refused to pay it, but it was deducted from him at settlement,
13,525; formerly was under Messrs. Hay, and now is under Mr.
Harrison, 13,538; Messrs. Hay did not object, 13,540; only had
liberty because he was the master of a vessel, 13,551; some men
have had to pay liberty money for their sons going to Faroe under
another merchant, 13,552; men going to Faroe fishing sign a
written agreement, 13,557; men are partners with the owners to the
extent of one-half, 13,558; there is not much smuggling practised,
13,580.
PRICES, higher at store, 568, 598, 4313, 4542, 4614, 4662, 4734,
4742, 4794, 4835, 4860, 4887, 4978, 5045, 5300, 8403, 8704,
8731, 13,866, 13,940, 13,981.
-Higher on account of system of barter in hosiery dealings, 2866,
3176, 3508, 3909, 8040, 9585, 9715, 12,785, 12,826, 12,916,
13,085, 13,408, 13,442.
-of goods, 568, 598, 956, 959, 3423, 4238, 5801, 5856, 6193,
6266, 8731, 8887, 9299, 9583, 12,658, 12,756, 12,783, 12,826,
13,408, 13,465, 14,769, 14,860.
PRICE of fish, how fixed and ascertained, 4919, 5887, 8932, 9085,
9537, 9675, 10,125, 10,143, 12,277, 12,565, 13,027, 13,331,
13,648, 15,103.
-Fixed at first of season, 491, 860, 1409, 5201, 5814, 5904, 6213,
6267, 7059, 8508, 8722, 9951, 10,558, 12,090, 12,104, 12,885,
12,982, 13,519.
QUALITY of goods, 613,956, 959, 1394, 1650, 3009, 3039, 4313,
4742, 4799, 5801, 6266, 7398, 8732, 8887, 9899, 13,085, 13,408,
13,465.
QUIN, Mary Duncan or (analysis of her evidence, p. 425), lives
in Kirkwall, was born in Lerwick, and lived there till seven years
since; has knitted for twenty years, both with her own wool and
that of merchants; always paid in goods, but did not need money
much. Women who depended on knitting for a living often had to
sell their goods for half-price to get money; sells at Kirkwall for
money. Gives evidence as to the value of veils got from Grace
Slater (p. 409) and E. Malcolmson (p. 409), 16,657.
RATTER, Andrew (analysis of his evidence, p. 177), fishermen at
North Roe, 7386; and tenant of Messrs. Hay, 7387; generally deals
at their store, 7392; articles always satisfactory, 7398; tea, 7399;
meal, 7400.
RATTER, John (analysis of his evidence, p. 210), fisherman at
Weathersta, 8624; for Mr. Adie, 8625; corroborates Thomas
Robertson (p. 211), 8627.
READY Money system, 802, 3623, 8902, 9329, 9587, 9592, 9974,
9945, 10,527, 11,453, 11,826, 11,905, 12,028, 12,039, 15,078,
16,465.
RENT, 488, 911, 944, 1226, 1386, 5274, 5404, 5759, 9991,
10,640, 11,912, 11,969, 12,153, 12,618, 13,007, 13,048, 13,459,
13,681, 14,887, 15,074, 15,120, 15,135.
-Dealer responsible for, 10,025, 10,039, 11,912, 13,679, 15,136.
-Lower because of obligation to fish, 13,293.
ROBERTSON, Charles (analysis of his evidence, p. 378),
member of R. & C. Robertson, wholesale and retail provision
merchants, Lerwick, 15,017; merchants generally keep only one
kind of meal, 15,018; gives evidence as to prices of meal, etc.,
15,021.
ROBERTSON, Elizabeth (analysis of her evidence, p. 5),
knits for herself formerly for dealers, 221; merchants supplied her
with wool, 223; paid in goods, 229; had not pass-book, 231; could
seldom get money from dealers, and often obliged to take goods
from them and sell at half-price to get it, 236-238; gets lines from
dealers if not requiring goods, 248, 251; to obtain money, sells
these lines to persons requiring goods, 257-259, and 287-290.
ROBERTSON, Gilbert (analysis of his evidence, p. 224),
fisherman and tenant at Hamnavoe under Mr. M'Queen, 9301;
elder of Established Church, South Yell, 9302; free to fish always,
excepting for one period of three years, when bound, 9304; ling
fishing, 9308; thinks a ready-money system would be somewhat
better for men, 9332.
ROBERTSON, James (analysis of his evidence, p. 204), lives
at Muckle Roe--was formerly a fisherman, but is now too old,
8435; thinks fishermen are free, and should engage with any
merchant whom they think offers the best bargain, 8460; men
could not manage to cure their own fish, 8466; as they have not
accommodation, [Page 451] 8470; and would not realize so good a
price, as they would not be able to command so extensive a market
as the merchant, 8471; does not see any advantage in payments for
fish being made earlier in the season, 8472; meal is much dearer
than in the south, 8475; knitting and weaving, 8488; paid either in
goods or money, 8490; if people not indebted, 8502.
ROBERTSON, Mrs. Janet (analysis of her evidence, p. 237), knits,
9793; for Mrs. Spence with her wool, 9794-5; is paid in goods and
money--gets money when she wishes, but generally takes goods, 9797.
ROBERTSON, John, sen. (analysis of his evidence, p. 351), is
a merchant at Lerwick, and tacksman of Lunna estate, 14,067;
fish-curing establishment at Skerries, 14,068; has a store at Vidlin,
14,069; goods are dearer there than at Lerwick, only because of the
cost of transit--they are always sold at the lowest possible prices,
14,072; men fishing at Skerries are bound to deliver their fish to
the tacksman of Lunna, 14,075; but are free to go to the Faroe and
Greenland fishing, 14,082; beach boys are paid weekly wages,
14,086; but are settled with annually, 14,088; are supplied with
goods or cash, as they wish, 14,093-8; herring fishery a failure of
late, 14,108; men have half the produce, and the other half goes to
the expense of boats, etc., 14,112; remembers one or two instances
of new employers taking over debt due by a man to a previous one,
14,138; does not know of any special arrangement to that effect,
14,139; and never entered into one himself, 14,140; purchases
kelp, 14,143; pays 4s. 6d. in goods and 4s. in cash, 14,147;
gatherers have accounts, 14,150; does not think the fish-curing
business could be profitably carried on without combination with a
store, 14,152; people require supplies from shop, and could not do
without them, 14,153; the quality of fish would be deteriorated if
men cured for themselves, 14,155.
-(recalled, p.365). Price of meal at Lerwick, 14,570-6; does an
extensive business in it, 14,577; meal in Shetland is generally of
one quality, 14,579; only one quality sold, 14,585.
ROBERTSON, John, jun. (analysis of his evidence, p. 383),
merchant and fish-curer, and has retail shop in Lerwick--has
fishing station at Spiggie, 15,153; none of the tenants there are
bound to fish for him, 15,154; men in neighbourhood could not
cure their own fish, because there is no beach other than his,
15,159; does not understand how some dealers give more than the
current price, 15,164; succeeded Robert Mouat, 15,178; Mouat did
not call tenants together and order them to fish for him, but merely
recommended them to do so, 15,180.
ROBERTSON, Laurence (analysis of his evidence, p. 348),
fisherman at Skelberry, in Lunnasting, 13,933; bound to fish for
tacksman, 13,934; deals at store, 13,946; runs an account, 13,950;
is generally in debt at settlement, 13,951; gets advances of money,
13,956; men put on allowance when too far in debt, 13,967.
ROBERTSON, Thomas (analysis of his evidence, p. 209),
fisherman, 8582; and tenant, of land, 8583; fishes for Mr. Adie,
8584; settles yearly, 8585; gets advances if wished, 8587; herring
fishery, 8605-8; price fixed at beginning of season, 8608.
ROBERTSON, William (analysis of his evidence, p. 265), cashier
and principal clerk to Mr. Joseph Leask, 10,847; gives an account
of Mr. Leask's system of business, 10,850; Mr. Leask's tenants are
not bound to fish, 10,858; either in home or Faroe fishings, 10,912;
hold their land as yearly tenants, 10,913; denies that the truck
system is more prevalent in Shetland than other parts of the
kingdom, and that it 'makes its depressing effect felt in all the
ramifications of the industrial and social life of the natives,'
10,924; that men and their wives and children are all severally
indebted to the merchants, or that men generally are in debt,
10,925; the tenants have farms generally of about twelve acres,
10,925; some as many as twenty-three acres, and some again
seven, and, besides, there are extensive commons, 10,926; free to
the people, except in Yell, where they pay for grazing ponies and
sheep, but not cattle, 10,927; whaling agents have a very small and
inadequate profit, 10,933; and make very little profit by their
stores, for the men are supplied as cheaply, if not cheaper than at
other stores, and there are many bad debts when there is a bad
voyage, 10,938; bad voyages are frequent in whale and seal
fishing, 10,939; young men must have advances for outfit, 10,940;
men indebted generally go to another merchant, 10,957; and in that
case, seldom pay their debts, 10,959; it is principally young men
who are indebted, 10,961; there is a great scarcity of men, vessels
often have to go to the fishing without their full complement of
hands, 10,961; agents occasionally settle men's debts to other
merchants, 10,977; agents obliged to pay wages in full to men in
presence of the shipping master, but men always come to the store
immediately after and settle any account they may owe, 11,009;
allotment notes not issued by Mr. Leask, 11,051; frequently
supplies men's families with money and goods in their absence,
11,058; delays in settlement are often caused by the dilatoriness of
the men, 11,073; there is only one price charged for goods, 11,111;
men always paid in cash, and not expected to buy; but when they
do, goods are given them as cheap or cheaper than they could
obtain them elsewhere, 11,187; men are very honest, and if they
owe money, invariably pay it after receiving their wages, 11,209;
hosiery paid in goods, 11,227; is simply barter, and not truck,
11,229; all Mr. Leask's employees paid in cash, unless they prefer
to take goods, 11,248; Mr. Leask is extensively engaged in the
Faroe fishing, 11,268; describes agreement with men, 11,270;
lines and hooks, and anything else required by men, supplied by
themselves, 11,272; half of the fish, after deduction of cost of
curing, goes to the owner, and the other half to the men, 11,286.
ROBERTSON, William (recalled, p. 338). Hands in form of
agreement for Faroe fishing, 13,603; men generally join about the
middle of March, 13,604; shows workbook, 13,607; men never
bound to go to Faroe fishing, 13,625; there is only one price for
goods at store, 13,635; thinks price should not be fixed at the
beginning of season, 13,646; does not think small dealers can
command a higher, if so high a price for their fish, 13,655; unless
by selling in small parcels to retail dealers, 13,658; denies that Mr.
Leask ever forced the men on his property to fish for Mr.
Williamson, 13,668; rents are commonly paid by merchant,
13,681; and retained at settlement, 13,682; denies that the truck
system prevails in Shetland to an extent unknown in other parts of
the kingdom, 13,697; the population of Shetland is 30,000 persons,
13,698; three-fourths of these are fishermen, seamen, and their
families, 13,699; nearly every man has an account with the
merchant he fishes for--does not consider this can be called truck,
13,701; thinks men have no reason to complain, 13,707; for it is an
advantage, 13,708; fish merchant is only paid annually for his fish,
and cannot be expected to settle otherwise than yearly with men,
13,710; men frequently have large sums of money in bank, 13,726;
in Greenland whale fishing experienced men are preferred, as
agents do not like the risk of supplying outfits to young hands,
13,737; men are not bound to take outfit from agents, 13,755;
weekly or fortnightly settlements would be impossible, 13,789;
Shetland men are not improvident or extravagant, 13,807; and, as
a rule are not in debt, 13,808.
ROBERTSON, William (analysis of his evidence, p. 420), is in the
employment of Hay & Co., Lerwick, 16,529; gives in statement as
to the mode of dealing with men engaged for the seal and whale
fishing, 16,530; to the following effect: 'I have been in Hay &
Co.'s employment for upwards of twenty-eight years, during which
time I have had chief management of their ship-agency business,
and particularly that part of it connected with the whale fishery.
The masters of the ships invariably choose the men who form their
crews, and fix their wages without any regard to the employer.
When engaged, men can get their first month's advance in cash,
and if they wished allotment notes. Without farther credit from the
agent, however, young hands could not get an outfit, and now the
Board of Trade regulations have very greatly lessened the number
of young men going to Greenland. The necessity of payment at the
Custom-house causes much extra trouble to the agents, and they
endeavoured at one time to get a higher commission. They did not,
however, and have continued in the agency with much reluctance.
Since 1867, men have always been paid first month's advance in
cash at shipping office, and the balance at the end of the voyage,
whenever they choose to ask it, quite irrespective of advances
to them for clothing; these, however, the men, as a rule, came
forward and settled promptly.' Men are seldom in debt, 16,531; if
indebted, they go to another agent; their accounts are occasionally
transferred to the new agent, 16,566; agents expect men to deal
with them, but only because they have always done so; there is no
compulsion, 16,586; there is great difficulty and trouble in getting
men to attend at a settlement, 16,605.
RUSSELL, Euphemia (analysis of her evidence, p. 284), lives at
Blackness, Scalloway, 11,562; supports herself by knitting and
out-door work, 11,564; would devote her time entirely to knitting
if she could get money in payment, 11,565; when requiring money
has to take out-door work, 11,567; never got money from [Page
452] dealers, 11,570; has exchanged tea for meal, 11,578; can only
get wool for money, 11,579.
SANDISON, Alexander (analysis of his evidence, p. 169),
formerly fisherman, now too old to fish, 7049; fished for Mr.
Anderson, 7051; was not actually bound when indebted to
re-engage with merchant, 7054; but thought it fair to do so,
7077; price fixed at the beginning of season would be a doubtful
benefit, 7059; eggs paid in goods, 7074; fishermen much better off
now than formerly, 7083; whale fishing, 7088-7099.
SANDISON, Alexander (analysis of his evidence, p. 241),
partner in the firm of Spence & Co., 9978; formerly partner of Hay
& Co. (Lerwick) at Uyea Sound, 9979; manager there, 9980;
lessees of Major Cameron's estate in Unst, 9982; men not bound to
fish, 9986; small boats are better adapted to winter fishing, 9998;
winter fishing cannot be extended, 10,001; monthly payments in
cash would be the best system, 10,067 men decline this, 10,009; a
change in the system would cause poverty amongst the men for a
time, 10,015; truck is not nearly so common as it was thirteen
years ago, 10,027; a dealer is powerless to arrest for debt because
of the landlord's hypothec, 10,036; dealer is bound to see tenant's
rents paid to proprietor, or men will not be permitted to fish for
him, 10,025-10,039; dealer often cannot avoid giving further credit
to indebted men, because without it they and their families would
be starved, 10,049; a change to monthly payments from present
system would cause much pauperism in the period of transition,
10,052; thinks the best thing for Shetlanders would be to find some
profitable employment for them in the winter--does not think the
winter fishing could be improved, 10,061; thinks the Government
should improve the harbours and roads--in the sale of cattle, men
often decline to take the proceeds until the yearly settlement,
10,077; men are quite free in the sale of farm produce, 10,079;
boat hiring unprofitable, 10,139; has absolute power to eject men
on estates in tack in Unst, but has never done so, 10,162; tenants
are not bound to fish or sell farm produce, 10,165, 10,166; but
generally do, 10,168; buys hosiery, 10,182; and worsted, 10,183;
pays in cash, 10,187; thinks knitters as a rule should have as much
for their work as the value of the worsted, 10,196.
-Letter sent by (p. 248). Thinks the morals of the people may
compare favourably with those of any others in Scotland; small
shops are an evil, as they sell whisky surreptitiously; thinks the
time spent on winter fishing lost, as it could be more profitably
employed in farming; thinks the best remedy for evils is to
improve houses and get men to improve their ground.
-(recalled, p. 254). Is agent at Uyea Sound for Shipwrecked
Mariners' Society, 10,480; men never contribute, 10,481; a man
was removed because he had a shop, 10,488; small shops are an
evil, for men indebted will beg necessaries from store and sell
them for superfluities at them, 10,494; men's debts are often paid
by a new merchant, but knows of no rule to that effect, 10,498.
-(recalled, p. 263). Want of change, 10,767.
SANDISON, Arthur (analysis of his evidence, p. 191), shopman
and book-keeper to Mr. Anderson, Hillswick. 7837; is preparing
return from Mr. Anderson's books of number of fishermen, etc., 7841.
SANDISON, Jane (analysis of her evidence, p. 103), lives in
Sandwick, 4139; knits for Mr. Linklater, 4140; uses his wool,
4141; is paid in goods, 4142; has asked but never gets money,
4143; has exchanged goods for oil and wool, 4147-4156.
SANDISON, Jemima (analysis of her evidence, p. 33), knitter in
Lerwick, 1697; knits for dealer, 1699; has passbook, 1700; is
paid in goods, 1704; and in money, 1708; could always get some
money if she wished it, 1708; can get wool in exchange for
hosiery, 1717.
SANDISON, John (analysis of his eyidence, p. 167),
fisherman, 6938; and tenant of land, 6939; goes to home
fishing, 6940; for Mr. Anderson, 6941; settlement yearly,
6942; deals at his shop, 6944; never refused cash, 6956; is
not bound to deal with merchant, 6960; price of meal, 6972.
SANDISON, Peter Mouat (analysis of his evidence, p. 127), is
inspector of poor in the parish of Fetlar and North Yell, 5141;
formerly was a fish-curer, 5142; and still cures for Spence & Co.,
5255; settlements at end of year, 5145; indebtedness is a bad
policy for curers, 5148; the best men are always least in debt,
5149; men will not have pass-books, 5170; hosiery, 5176; is paid
generally in goods, 5193; fixing the price of fish at the beginning
of season would benefit the enters, but not the men, 5201; boats
and boat hires, 5206; men always get the highest currency, 5206;
men were bound to fish for him, 5211; but he never enforced the
obligation except in one case, 5216; men have been offered a
weekly payment, but refused it, 5217; there are scarcely any leases
in Yell, 5228; does not think the. system of long settlements tends
to increase the poor rates, 5234; beach boys, 5241; sometimes
have accounts, 5242; fish-curer would not choose to open these,
but it is sometimes necessary to do so, 5243; boys are not obliged
to serve, 5248; workers are paid at end of season, getting goods
during it from Spence & Co's. store, 5259; kelp, 5262; paid almost
entirely in cash, 5269; has known a few instances of restrictions
laid on the sale of farm stock when men are hopelessly in debt,
5271; rent, 5274; never knew any instance of cattle being marked
for debt, 5278.
SCOLLAY, Gilbert (analysis of his evidence, p. 203), is a tenant
on the Busta estate, 8376; keeps pauper lunatics, 8378; previously
indebted to merchant, 8379; payments by Parochial Board to him
made through merchant, who is chairman of Board, 8387; and
complains that merchant will only give him goods, 8389; which
are charged at enormous prices, 8403.
-(recalled, p. 210). Truck is a great cause of pauperism, as it
makes the poor careless and the rich fearless. If man dies, the
goods he leaves will be taken by his creditor, and his widow and
family left penniless, 8637.
-(recalled, p. 376). Corrects his previous evidence, and gives
evidence as to prices of meal and flour, 14,964, 14,966.
SECURITY in holding of land, best cure for evils of Shetland,
8055.
SEPARATION of farming and fishing in Shetland (impossible),
4421, 4872, 8029; note, p. 248.
SHARES, fishermen always work best on, 3623, 10,007,
12,604, 12,608.
SHIPWRECKED Mariners' Society, 6711, 10,480, 11,863,
14,348, 14,800, 15,552.
SHORT Settlements, 9579, 9952, 10,006, 10,052, 10,238, 10,341,
10,512, 10,528, 10,718, 10,827, 11,797, 11,875, 12,610, 12,887,
15,203, 15,750.
-Impracticable, 3896, 8149, 11,797, 11,875, 13,789.
SHAWLS and haps, price of, 31, 1421, 1441, 1521, 1641, 1686,
3413, 3430, 9739, 10,205, 11,537, 11,606, 11,769, 15,922, 16,010,
16,045, 16,075, 16,113, 16,208.
-Dressing of, 1729, 1793.
SIEVWRIGHT, William (analysis of his evidence, p. 382),
solicitor in Lerwick, 15,116; factor on property of Mrs. Budge,
Scaffold, 15,117; wrote letter to William Stewart, quoted in
Stewart's evidence (question 8917), 15,118; written because the
tenants had taken a prejudice against Thomas Williamson, and his
business fell off; the men, on explanation, were ready to deal with
him; there was no compulsion used, 15,119; Williamson was not
responsible for rents, 15,135.
SIMPSON, Mrs. Andrina (analysis of her evidence, p. 6), knits for
herself, 306; buys her wool, 308; sells to merchants for goods,
310; never got more than part payment in cash, 316-320; never
gets lines, 329.
SIMPSON, Laurence (analysis of his evidence, p. 345), does not
wish to make any statement, because his rent may be raised or he
may be ejected, 13,830; is a tenant on estate of Lunna, 13,832; is
bound, so far as he knows, to fish for tacksman, 13,833; would
prefer liberty, 13,840; not free to sell winter fish, 13,843; is not
bound at all to deal at store, 13,903; goods in Lerwick cheaper
than at store, 13,920.
SIMPSON, Robert (analysis of his evidence, 348), fisherman at
Valour, in Lunnasting, 13,978; not having money, is obliged to
take goods from the merchant, 13,980; is charged more than
should be, 13,981; bound to fish for Mr. Robertson, 13,983; could
make more if free and curing for himself, 13,986; never sold eggs
for cash, but has no doubt he could have got it if he had wished,
14,023.
SINCLAIR, Charles (analysis of his evidence, p. 22), is a
fisherman at Burra, 1100; wishes liberty in fishing, 1109; liability
for father's debts, 1143-1154; in Faroe fishing can get payment in
money, 1157; families of fishermen get provisions and money
when they are absent at the Faroe fishing, 1172, 1178.
SINCLAIR, Henry (analysis of his evidence, p. 131), tenant on
Symbister estate at Lerwick, formerly bound to tacksman (Mouat),
5309; was warned because of a quarrel with his son as to an entry
of fish, 5315; got provisions at store, 5323; never got any money,
5332; meal unfit to eat, 5330.
SINCLAIR, Isabella (analysis of her evidence, p. 72), daughter
and assistant of R. Sinclair, 3245; never knew of lines being
passed from one to another person, 3250; payments in money less,
3252; Shetland wool is becoming extinct owing to the introduction
of Cheviot sheep, 3269, 3270.
[Page 453]
SINCLAIR, Isabella (recalled, p. 82). Has known cases of hosiery
being sold for money to other people, and knitters have afterwards
come and spent the cash at dealer's shop, 3612.
-(recalled, p. 350). Explains, with reference to evidence of
Margaret Jamieson (p. 350), that salesmen in her father's shop
cannot give money without permission, and that the want of cash
is an exceptional case, 14,064; persons are paid in money who
have bargained for money, 14,065; but a less price given in cash,
14,066.
SINCLAIR, Mary Ann (analysis of her evidence, p. 40), knits,
2075; for dealer with his wool, 2076; has no pass-book, 2077; is
paid in money and goods, 2079; gets as much money as she
wishes, 2092, 2107.
SINCLAIR, Robert (analysis of his evidence, p. 49), merchant in
Lerwick, 2366; deals in drapery, tea, boots and shoes, and a few
groceries, 2367; deals also in hosiery, 2370; principally buys
hosiery, but sometimes gives wool out to be knitted, 2371; pays
generally in goods, but gives cash, 2373; more cash given lately,
2376; pass-books given if wished, 2383; sometimes pays entirely
in cash, 2399; but only for goods actually required, 2402-2404;
often takes goods, when not requiring them, from knitters who are
in need, 2404; payment in goods generally understood, 2411; the
system of pass-books, 2455, 2462; knitters seldom have them,
2455; refers to evidence of Elizabeth Robertson (p. 5), 2462; states
she has several times had worsted in part payment of hosiery,
2463-2470; but never gives mohair, 2471; or Shetland wool, 2473;
as the supply is very small, and there is great difficulty in getting
it, and it is only kept for the merchant's own use, 2473, 2481; as a
rule, will not even sell it for cash, 2482; gives lines, 2502; the
practice of giving lines commenced lately, 2517; a cash tariff
should be introduced, as it would save much trouble, 2519; does
not know whether in some cases knitters might not lose by it,
2521; there is no profit on hosiery at present, 2523; and merchant's
only profit is on the goods given to knitters, 2531; if cash tariff
were introduced, would have to give less for hosiery, 2543, 2547;
to give money to knitters entails considerable loss, 2579; two
prices, cash and goods, 2575; lines, 2581-2590; does not think they
are often transferred, 2587; women will not take a less price in
cash for their work, 2611; lines are seldom long in currency, 2639;
refers to evidence of Catherine Borthwick (p. 32), 2643.
-(recalled, p. 71). Refers again to evidence of Catherine
Borthwick (p. 32), 3215.
-(recalled, p. 77). Price of meal, 3413; dyeing of shawls, 3413.
-(recalled, p. 78). Ticketing of goods, 3449.
-(recalled, p. 82). Mentions case of a customer making cash
purchase in his shop, and a person having lines calling her aside
and exchanging her lines for the customer's cash in his presence, a
line being tendered in payment of his goods, 3617.
-(recalled, p. 356). Explains, with reference to Adam Tait's
evidence (p. 356), that, for various reasons, there is often a
deficiency of cash in shop, 14,289.
-(recalled, p.406). Concurs with Mr. Laurenson (p. 406), 16,035;
never barters hosiery for goods from merchants, 16,036.
-(recalled, p. 409). Explains, with reference to Slater's evidence
(p. 408), that a number of goods are torn in dressing, 16,129.
SLATER, Grace (analysis of her evidence, p. 408), knitter in
Lerwick, 16,084; and keeps lodgings, 16,085; generally knits veils,
16,086; gets from 1s. to 1s. 4d. for knitting veils, 16,090.
(recalled, p. 409). Produces a veil she is at present making for Mr.
Sinclair, 16,128.
SMITH, Mrs. Elizabeth Irvine or (analysis of her evidence. p.
286), lives in Scalloway, 11,683; knits chiefly for Mr. Sinclair,
11,684; has account with him, and gets whatever goods she
wishes, 11,684; gets money also when she wishes, 11,688; once
bartered tea for milk, 11,698.
SMITH, Hans (analysis of his evidence, p. 117), is master of a
smack visiting Fair Island, 4739; takes goods to store there, 4740;
people satisfied with quality, but not the price of goods, 4742; it is
expensive carrying goods thither, and there is a risk of damage,
4743; other dealers are not allowed to sell goods on the island,
4745-8; or to buy, 4749; people fined for selling cattle or horses to
them, 4751.
SMITH, James (analysis of his evidence, p. 322), merchant and
fish-curer at Hill Cottage, Sandwick, 13,022; conducts his business
in the same manner as Mr. Tulloch (p. 321), 13,025; generally
pays more than current price for fish, 13,027; men cannot cure fish
so well for themselves, 13,036; buys eggs, pays in goods, 13,043;
payment on delivery of fish would not be advantageous to men, as
men would not get credit, without which they cannot begin the
fishing: they would not know how to manage their money, it
would be spent before rent-time, and the landlord would roup their
corn or cattle, 13,047; the present system is a great benefit to men
in a bad year, 13,048.
SMITH, Laurence (analysis of his evidence, p. 110), fisherman
and tenant of land at Trosswick, 4435; corroborates William
Goudie, 4437; gets advances from dealer, 4457; never was refused
one, but always had a balance in his favour, 4459; never paid fines
or liberty money, 4483; but understood he was liable for them,
4484; would be content, but objects to be bound to fish for
landlord, 4487; not bound to deal at store, 4488.
-(recalled, p. 117). Refers to evidence of Robert Halcrow (p.
115); saw bill mentioned, and states also that a man with a letter
was sent to tenants, 4720; from landlord, stating that the lands
were given over to his son, 4726; and that they would have to fish
for him, under penalty of ejectment, 4727.
SMITH, Peter (analysis of his evidence, p. 20), fisherman at Burra,
976; and tenant, 977; engaged in home fishing, 977; corroborates
Walter Williamson (p. 15), 979; formerly it was a custom with
men to take tea from store and sell to each other to obtain money,
986-993; this was forbidden by dealers, 987, 990; are bound to
deliver fish, 1003; by written obligation, 994-996; was made to
pay liberty money for his sons when they worked for another
dealer, 1012; but got it paid back afterwards, 1025.
SMITH, Peter (analysis of his evidence, p. 251), fisherman
formerly at Westing, now fish-curer for Spence & Co., 10,343;
cures by contract, 10,344; beach boys get credit at the curer's shop
at the risk of merchant; fees are paid by merchant on receipt of
line, 10,345, 10,368.
SMITH, Robert (analysis of his evidence, p. 220), fisherman and
tenant, at Burravoe, to Mr. Henderson, 9104; formerly fished at
Samphray for Mr. Robert and Mr. James Hoseason, 9106; bound
to do so, 9108, 9122.
SMITH, Mrs. Rosina Duncan or (analysis of her evidence, p. 408),
lives in Lerwick, 16,067; husband alive, but old--formerly a
seaman, 16,068; has no pension, 16,069; witness knits for her
family, 16,070; at one time knitted and sold to Mr. Sinclair and
Mr. Leask, 16,072; was paid generally in goods, but got money if
she required, 16,080.
SMITH, Rev. William (analysis of his evidence, p. 260),
clergyman of Baltasound for three years, 10,701; long payments
and running accounts have a very deteriorating effect on the
character of the people--it destroys self-reliance, 10,703; men look
to merchant for help in bad season, 10,704; does not think many
men save money, 10,709; and when men have money they conceal
it, having a want of confidence in merchants, 10,710; men
indebted sell stock to small traders privately, 10,712; thinks some
new system of money payments should be introduced, 10,714;
clergyman and small proprietors generally obtain supplies out of
Shetland, 10,715; as quality and price of dealer's goods are
different, 10,716; the houses of the people are very bad and should
be improved, but much might be done by the people themselves if
paid weekly or monthly wages, 10,718; the present system leads
men into debt, 10,719; has been asked to apply funds collected for
widows to liquidate debt, but never did so, 10,725.
SMUGGLING of fish, by men bound to deliver to curer, 966,
3655. 3762, 5577, 5663, 5981, 6564, 6822, 7336, 12,908, 13,158,
13,579, 13,840.