SPENCE, John (analysis of his evidence, p. 256), senior partner of
Spence & Co., 10,556; produces letter, 10,558; stating that cash
system would be an advantage, and would necessitate no more,
and even less, outlay of capital than at present on the part of
masters; at least price of fish should be fixed at beginning of
season; sooner or later it will be necessary to do so; it is already
done with the winter fishing, and might with the summer; it would
be an advantage to the merchant in several ways, 10,558; herring
fishery is carried on at a great loss at present by merchants in hope
of future success, 10,563; there should be co-operation and not
competition between merchants, 10,567; as the country is too poor
for competition, 10,580.
STEWART, William (analysis of his evidence, p. 216),
fisherman and tenant at Seafield, Mid Yell, 8911; sells fish to Mr.
Thomas Williamson by direction of landlord, 8917; has no written
tack, 8919; paid current price at end of year, 8932; sale of cattle,
8944.
SUTHERLAND, Charlotte (analysis of her evidence, p. 426),
[Page 454] knitter in Kirkwall; brought up in Lerwick, and lived
there till 1867 with her father, and knitted goods sometimes with
merchants' and sometimes with her own wool. After her father's
death knitted to a Miss Ogilvy for money and the shops for goods.
Knew a great many women in Lerwick who lived entirely by
knitting, and had to take goods from the shop and sell them to get
money, 16,660.
SUBDIVISION (excessive) of land to multiply fishermen, 9728,
10,925 (size of holdings).
SUGAR, 7948, 8733, 10,231, 12,826, 12,876, 13,212, 13.235,
13,394, 13,416, 15,817, 16,656, 16,659, 16,852, 16,860.
SUTHERLAND, George Sinclair (analysis of his evidence, p.
427). Mr. Methuen, who was to have been examined by
commissioner, is forbidden by his medical adviser, and witness
attends to speak to points on which he was expected to give
information, 16,661. Has been for eight years in Mr. Methuen's
service, and manages his business, which is the largest business in
Scotland, 16,662; gave up business in Shetland because Mr. Bruce
took all his tenants' boats into his own hands, 16,671; he had no
shop, 16,677; the system of paying for fish on delivery would be
very difficult to work in such places as Shetland, 16,704; it would
be a great advantage to merchants, 16,705; men prefer to be paid
the current price at end of year, to getting the market price on
delivery, 16,720; payment of the price of the day would benefit
both men and merchants, 16,729; large boats are an advantage in
fishing, 16,764; but in bad weather are more difficult to manage,
16,768.
SUTHERLAND, Rev. James R. (analysis of his evidence, p. 179),
is minister of the parish of Northmaven, 7468; and well acquainted
with the condition of people, 7470; thinks the system of long
payments ruinous to men morally and pecuniarily--destroys
independence, 7474; most of the people are indebted, 7475;
merchants and men are suspicious of each other, 7490; men think
merchants take undue profits, 7491; the evidence of fishermen
already given is not to be depended on, as they are in terror of the
dealers, 7512; branch shops opened by the dealers, 7520-7523; the
system of separate accounts for each member of family destroys
family affection and mutual dependence, 7525; parents when aged
are neglected by their children, 7526; beach boys are generally
indebted, 7533; eggs, 7538; women dress more expensively than is
necessary because of the payment of hosiery in goods, 7549; when
buying corn and straw, witness cannot get it delivered to him till
after dark, because the people are in fear of the merchants, 7563;
does not know whether merchants actively cause this terrorism,
7573; money subscribed for widows of men drowned appropriated
by merchant for payment of their husbands' debts, 7581; marking
of cattle for debt, 7600; whisky, 7615; truck and allowing of credit
should be made penal, 7626.
TAIT, Adam (analysis of his evidence, p. 356), shopman to Robert
Sinclair, 14,280; settled with Margaret Jamieson (p. 350) for a hap
purchased by Mr. Sinclair lately, 14,281; paid 19s. 6d. in goods
and 6d. in cash--the bargain was made for goods, and so he refused
to give her cash except at a reduction, 14,284; seldom a deficiency
of cash in shop, 14,288.
TAIT, Agnes (analysis of her evidence, p. 288), lives in Scalloway
alone, 11,755; supports herself entirely by knitting; is always paid
in goods; never asked money, because she knew she would not get
it, 11,757; got money by sending hosiery south, 11,758; barter of
goods for money, 11,759.
TAIT, George Reid (analysis of his evidence, p. 363), agent in
Lerwick for whaling vessels, 14,509; settles with men at shipping
office in full, 14,513; men generally settled with at once, 14,516;
men, as a rule, pay their accounts immediately after, 14,526;
are very honourable, 14,527; report by Mr. Hamilton very
exaggerated, 14,549; is acquainted with the practice of exchanging
lists of men indebted who have left their employment-has not
seen any of these for some years, 14,558.
TAIT, Mrs. Jemima Brown or (analysis of her evidence, p. 7),
knits for dealer, 335; uses his wool, 338; has pass-book, 343;
cannot get money, 352.
TEA, Price of, etc., 986, 1488, 6696, 7399, 7452, 7949, 8733,
8967, 9269, 9811, 10,226, 10,252, 10,318, 10,673, 11,749, 13,393,
13,416, 14,726, 15,808, 15,832, 16,656, 16,830, 16,857.
TENANTS bound to fish for curer, 476, 559, 764, 775, 784, 994,
1003, 1066, 1110, 1114, 1209, 1242, 1396, 2974, 2983, 3021,
4256, 4508, 4575, 4613, 4647, 4803, 4901, 4911, 5077, 5127,
5211, 5284, 5309, 5936, 6028, 7111, 9108, 9224, 9274, 9275,
9304, 9370, 9638, 9821, 9924, 10,402, 10,661, 12,058, 12,367,
12,621, 12,734, 12,774, 12,800, 12,843, 13,082, 13,130, 13,293,
13,833, 13,934, 13,983, 14,075, 14,731, 14,890, 15,061, 16,433,
16,656.
TENANTS free in fishing, 1109, 3047, 5409, 5544, 5804, 6185,
6251, 7975, 8084, 8781, 8894, 9304, 9514, 9555, 9819, 9986,
10,165, 10,208, 10,324, 10,551, 10,622, 10,640, 10,858, 10,874,
10,912, 11,060, 11,729, 11,928, 12,029, 12,247, 12,949, 13,293,
13,455, 15,060, 15,145, 15,154.
THOMASON, Thomas (analysis of his evidence, p. 152),
fisherman at Eskerness and at Stenness, 6183; fishes for dealer,
6185; free to fish for any one, 6185; tenant of land, 6186; has an
account with dealer, 6189; no pass-book, 6190; is not bound to
deal at shop, 6192; goods much the same in price as elsewhere,
6193; meal, 6194; does not think a price fixed at beginning of
season would be an advantage, 6213; freedom in fishing an
advantage to men, 6227; meal, 6235.
THOMPSON, Laurence (analysis of his evidence, p. 387), seaman
in Lerwick, 15,276; has frequently gone thence on sealing and
whaling voyages, 15,277; under various agents, 15,278; always got
outfit from agent he sailed under, 15,279; got goods from him and
balance in cash, 15,285-15,300; always got money when he asked,
15,302; now is paid at Custom-house, and pays his account at shop
immediately thereafter, 15,321.
THOMSON, John (analysis of his evidence, p. 287), shopkeeper
and grocer at Sandsound in Sandsting, 11,699; deals a little in fish
in winter and spring, 11,703; cures for himself, 11,704; pays on
delivery, 11,706; in goods if cash not wished, 11,707; runs
accounts with fishermen, but does not like doing so, 11,711; might
have a better business if men were paid for fish on delivery,
11,717; men have freedom in fishing in his district, 11,729.
TOBACCO, Price of, etc., 5053, 10,229, 10,257, 12,875,
13,204, 13,231, 13,395, 13,457, 16,854.
TULLOCH, Andrew (analysis of his evidence, p. 9), a fisherman,
456; fishes for ling for Mr. Tulloch, 459; is afraid of the landlord
taking the tack of the tenants into his own hands, 468; does not
complain of present arrangement, except that prices of fish are
never fixed till the cud of the season, 474; no written agreements,
476; all the fish delivered to merchant's factor, 484; can get money
before settlement to pay rent, 488; would rather contract to supply
fish at a stated price, 491; can have pass-books, 495; balance paid
at end of season, 501; sometimes a deficiency, 501; which is
allowed to stand over, 503; is not bound to deal with merchant,
514; has heard that landlord proposes to take fishing into his own
hands, and fears oppression in that case, 528.
TULLOCH, Andrew (analysis of his evidence, p. 134), lives at
Brough in Mossbank, 5426; fished for himself for two years, and
sold to Mr. Leask, 5427; has a man to cure his fish, 5428; makes
more this way, 5430; takes his fish to Lerwick yearly, and is then
paid for them, 5434; in cash, 5435; men on Busta estate all free,
5443; pays the same price when buying goods for cash as he
would taking them on credit, 5447; price of fish and cost of curing,
5446-5460.
TULLOCH, Gilbert (analysis of his evidence, p. 277), shopkeeper
at Scalloway to Hay & Co.; they have a shop, 11,309; in winter
fishing men paid in cash on delivery, 11,313; men generally take
their goods, but are not obliged, 11,372; people employed in
curing paid weekly wages, 11,427; they generally take full value
of these prior to settlement, 11,429; butter and eggs paid for in
goods, 11,435; ready-money payments would facilitate business,
11,455.
TULLOCH, James (analysis of his evidence, p. 60), merchant in
Lerwick, 2767; sells drapery, tea, and soap, 2768; deals in hosiery,
2770; buys it chiefly--seldom employs knitters, 2770; pays
principally in goods, seldom gives cash, 2771; knitters have no
pass-books, 2772; does not sell worsted, 2779; but lately has sold a
little Pyrenees wool, 2779; sometimes giving it for hosiery, 2781;
objects to sell Shetland wool even for cash, 2783; gives lines,
2785; there is generally no profit on hosiery, 2793; system of
payment in goods is very old; does not think knitters would agree
to a cash system, as they would be paid a less price, 2800; does not
object to a cash system, but thinks it would greatly interfere with
the sale of goods, 2807; it would also be injurious to merchants,
2808.
TULLOCH, Margaret (analysis of her evidence, p. 29), knits,
1476; has used her own wool for eighteen months, 1477;
previously knitted for Mr. Linklater, 1478; was paid in goods,
1480; had a pass-book, 1481; got tea and sold it to get money,
1488; knits now, and sells to merchants for part money and part
goods, 1515-1527; gets articles and sells them to others for money,
1528, 1540.
TULLOCH, Thomas (analysis of his evidence, p. 321), [Page 455]
fish-curer and merchant at Lebidden, 12,946; employs a number of
crews in summer fishing, 12,947; men not obliged to fish, 12,949;
settles annually, 12,953; men have accounts at store, 12,954; pays
men a price higher than the current price, 12,972; if price were
fixed at the beginning of the season, men would get less, 12,982;
men's debts sometimes paid by new merchant, 13,001; is not
responsible for rents, 13,007; buys eggs, pays in goods, 13,015.
TULLOCH, William Bruce (analysis of his evidence, p. 359),
merchant and shipping agent at Lerwick, 14,379; agent for
Greenland whaling vessels, 14,380; disagrees in part with the
evidence of Mr. William Robertson, 14,382; lists of balances due
by men to merchants are still handed by agents to each other,
14,385; but accounts only paid with consent of man, and when
there is a balance sufficient in his favour, 14,386; young hands are
not so commonly employed in Greenland fishing now, 14,448;
formerly that trade was a nursery for the navy, now the regulations
of the Board of Trade have prevented this, 14,454.
TWATT, John (analysis of his evidence, p. 299), merchant at Voe,
in the parish of Walls, 12,164; business the same as that of Mr.
Georgeson, 12,167; cannot get men to fish for him, 12,173; men
are expected to deal at store, 12,195; thinks that skippers of vessels
get a fee to make the men deal at store, 12,200; deals a little in
hosiery and eggs; pays by barter, 12,217, 12,218.
TWO Prices (cash and credit), 1936, 4238, 5392, 9438,
10,393, 10,507, 11,111, 13,635.
-(cash and goods), 2171, 2575, 2726, 12,295, 15,826.
VEILS, Price of, etc., 1422, 9738, 11,629, 16,090, 16,122, 16,128,
16,130, 16,657.
WALKER, John (analysis of his evidence, p. 402). Formerly
gave evidence before the commissioners, under the Act of 1870,
in Edinburgh, 15,920; re-affirms all evidence then given, and
explains as to the value of wool in a shawl, 15,921; contradicts
that merchants have no profit on hosiery, as he believes they
often have an extremely large one, 15,922; a great deal of land in
Shetland is under-rented for the purpose of binding fishermen,
15,936; men are afraid to come forward to give evidence before
the commissioner, 15,940; witness has been instrumental in
starting a large Limited Liability Company, to afford Shetlanders
the means of prosecuting fishing free from the oppression of truck,
15,941; the old system of payments to be adhered to, but men to be
paid in cash--in order to provide for outfits, the accounts to be paid
by Company whenever the ship leaves with the men on board --
and advances to be made to families, 15,947; manages chromate of
iron quarries at Unst, 15,969; wages not paid in truck, 15,970; but
were formerly, 15,971; since the abolition of truck in parishes with
which he is connected, the poor-rates have been reduced
considerably, 15,975; merchants often commence business without
any capital, and so trade on that of the fishermen, 15,982.
-- (recalled, p. 406). Messrs. Hay's establishment is the largest of
the kind in Lerwick, 16,024; men are ready to sign or do anything
they are bid by the curers, 16,027.
WANT of change and money, 10,767, 14,042, 14,064, 14,289.
WANT of independence, 3717 (none), 5992, 8050, 9946, 10,650,
13,877, 14,739.
WARNING too short, 4688, 8055.
WEEKLY or monthly payments (see Short Settlements).
WHALE and Seal Fishery, statements as to, 3991, 7088, 9136,
9609, 10,799, 10,931, 12,506, 13,695, 13,735, 14,080, 14,163,
14,293, 14,509, 14,522, 14,762, 14,815, 15,277, 15,489, 15,547,
15,600, 15,871, 16,221, 16,343, 16,390, 16,530.
WHALES driven ashore by men, one-third of oil taken by
landlord, 657, 764, 861, 4405, 11,856, 13,479.
WHALING Agents (see Whale and Seal Fishery).
WILLIAMSON, Charles (analysis of his evidence, p. 963),
fisherman at Cullivoe in North Yell, 10,769; does a good deal in
winter fishing, 10,773; makes more by it than most men, 10,774;
large boats are not so good for it, 10,788; but he intends to make a
trial in one, 10,789; was at whale fishing in 1864, 10,799; men
commonly paid in cash unless they require goods, 10,811; does not
see any advantage in monthly payments; in his own case, gets
money whenever he requires it, 10,827.
WILLIAMSON, Mrs. Christina (analysis of her evidence,
p. 4), knits, 150; uses her own wool, 152; often asked for money,
but cannot get it, 160-165; sells a shawl, and opens an account
with dealer, 175-186.
WILLIAMSON, Mrs. C. (recalled, p. 356). Corrects her former
evidence (p. 4) to the effect that it was not Mr. Laurenson but Mr.
Laurence to whom she sold a shawl, 14,291.
WILLIAMSON, George (analysis of his evidence, p. 121),
fisherman and tenant, Eastshore, Dunrosness, 4888; free in fishing
till twelve years since, then bound to fish for tacksman, 4901;
corroborates William Goudie (p. 105) and others, 4904; can
always get money, 4905.
WILLIAMSON, George (analysis of his evidence, p. 232),
fisherman at Mid Yell; goes to whale and seal fishing, 9609; in
whale fishing month's wages paid in advance, and allotment notes
given, 9613.
WILLIAMSON, Gideon (analysis of his evidence, p. 202),
fisherman at Muckle Roe, 8333; fishes for Mr. Inkster, 8335; is
settled with at Hallowmas yearly, 8336; deals at Mr. Inkster's
store, 8337; does not wish to deal elsewhere, 8342; never knew
men change employers because of being in debt, 8348.
WILLIAMSON, Gilbert (analysis of his evidence, 253), principal
storekeeper to Spence & Co., Haroldswick, 10,448; knows nothing
of hosiery purchases, as they are made by Mrs. Spence, 10,450;
gets lines by her from women, 10,452; and always pays them in
goods, 10,455.
WILLIAMSON, Mrs. Grace (analysis of her evidence, p. 201),
lives in Muckle Roe, 8253; knits and makes cloth, 8254; uses her
own wool for the cloth, 8256; gets either money or goods in
payment as she requires, 8257; her husband fishes for Mr. Inkster,
8274; she has no separate account at shop from her husband, 8277.
WILLIAMSON, Henry (analysis of his evidence, p. 153),
fisherman at Stenness, 6248; tenant at Tangwick, 6249; free in
fishing, 6251; fishes for dealer, 6252; deals principally at his shop,
6253; gets advances during season if required, 6265; is satisfied
with price and quality of goods at shop, 6266; thinks the fixing of
a price for fish at the beginning of the season would be a great
disadvantage to men, 6267; people are often supported by
merchants in bad seasons, 6274-6277; kelp, 6325.
WILLIAMSON, Laurence (analysis of his evidence, p. 218),
merchant at Linkhouse, Mid Yell, 8993; men free to fish to any
one, 8998; formerly engaged to fish for him, but had to break their
engagements by order of their landlord (see William Stewart's
evidence, p. 216), 9000; deals a little in hosiery, 9052; pays chiefly
in goods, 9053; has occasionally liquidated debts of fishermen
coming into his employment, 9074.
WILLIAMSON, Margaret (analysis of her evidence, p. 202), lives
in Muckle Roe, 8308; knits and makes some cloth, 8309; knits her
own wool, 8310; is always paid in goods, cannot get money, 8314;
paid for cloth in money if required, 8328.
WILLIAMSON, Thomas (analysis of his evidence, p. 228),
merchant and fish-curer at Seafield, 9463; previously shopman to
Magnus Mouat, 9464; his system of business, 9469-9486;
purchase of cattle, 9489; supplying of fishermen the principal
support of his business, 9495-9500; would not wish men to fish for
him unwillingly, 9523; gives for fish the current price as fixed by
the principal merchants, 9538; deals a little in hosiery and yarn,
9547; sells it in Lerwick for goods, 9548; hosiery and worsted are
bad speculations, 9552.
WILLIAMSON, Walter (analysis of his evidence, p. 15),
fisherman at Burra, 762; tenant, 763; complains that men are
bound to fish for landlord or pay liberty money, and that price not
fixed till end of season; cannot get leases, and owing to the nature
of the settlements must deal at landlord's shop; one-third of oil
from whales driven on shore is taken by landlord; daughters who
knit cannot get payment in money (these statements made in a
letter signed by witness and twelve others), 764; not under written
obligation to fish for landlord, 775; but bound verbally, 776;
cannot obtain liberty, 784; would prefer to fish on his own
account, 788; but would be ejected if he did, 790; long settlements,
807; would prefer the price to be fixed at the beginning of season,
if fixed honestly, 860; whales, 861-4; Faroe fishing, 876; ejection
for giving evidence, 900; rents, 911; farm produce, 939; men have
the advantage of credit in bad seasons, 954; but if they had liberty,
would not require it, 955; quality and price of store goods, 956;
men occasionally are obliged to cure and sell fish secretly to obtain
money, 967-970.
WILLIAMSON, William (analysis of his evidence, p. 250),
fisherman at Snarravoe, Unst, and tenant, 10,320; supposes he is
quite free in fishing, 10,324; and to deal [Page 456] at any shop,
10,325; once fished for fixed price, and got more at the end of the
season, 10,330; price fixed always in the herring fishery, 10,336;
does not know whether monthly payments would be an advantage,
10,341.
WILSON, Laurence (analysis of his evidence, p. 426), is a
fisherman at Kirkwall; was born and lived in Fair Isle until 1869;
left because he expected to be evicted; prices were too high in Fair
Isle, 16,659.
WILSON, Thomas (analysis of his evidence, p. 424), weaver at
Kirkwall; born in Fair Isle, and lived there until lately; population
about 30 or 40 families; they live chiefly by fishing, and that
principally in the summer; have always been bound to deliver their
fish to proprietor; men were settled with year]y, and never could
get cash; previously prices at store were much higher than charged
by hawkers who came to the island, 16,656.
WINTER Fishing, 7212, 7802, 8033, 8815, 8847, 8904, 9328,
9887, 10,001, 10,062, 10,083, 10,633, 10,773, 11,312, 11,703,
12,279, 12,478, 12,764, 12,879.
-Possibility of extending.
WINWICK, Catherine (analysis of her evidence, p. 1), knits for
Mr. Linklater, 2; uses his wool, 5; and is paid for her knitting, 7;
partly in money, partly in goods, 8; price fixed by merchant, 9;
keeps no passbook, 12; does not think she could have got payment
entirely in money, but never tried, 15; is always content, 19; only
needs money for rent or provisions, 20; always got whatever
money she asked, 22; but would have liked more, 29; knits a shawl
in about a month, 31; gets 10s. in money and goods, 33; wool
usually supplied, and women paid for the knitting, 44-46; dealers
will not sanction any other arrangement, 60.
WOOD, John (analysis of his evidence, p. 203), is a fisherman at
Muckle Roe, 8360; to Mr. Inkster, 8361; corroborates Gideon
Williamson (p. 202), 8363; men's debts usually transferred to new
merchant, 8373.
WOOL and worsted, 449, 1154, 1423, 1515, 1571, 1671, 1717,
1890, 1955, 2288, 2463, 2752, 2783, 2897, 3087, 3188, 3269,
3486, 6462, 7317, 8486, 8897, 9058, 9412, 9547, 9715, 9723,
9734, 10,183, 11,507, 11,571, 13,815, 14,005, 14,053, 15,396,
15,921, 16,043, 16,116.
WORSTED a ready-money article, 449, 1720, 11,545, 11,579.
YOUNG, Charles (analysis of his evidence, p. 143), fisherman at
Stenness, 5773; holds no land, 5775; goes to home fishing, 5777;
deals with merchant, 5789; can get advances of money during
season, 5791; meal, 5799; goods as good and cheap at merchant's
store as at any other shop, 5801; not bound to fish, 5804; would
like price fixed at beginning of season, 5814; but thinks there
might be some difficulty in getting fishermen to abide by their
bargain, 5819; men in debt to curer expected to fish for him, 5829.