Part 383 (1/2)
16,413. Then is it quite an understood thing that man who engages with an agent for a Greenland voyage must get his supplies from that agent's shop?-If his goods are as cheap and its good as any other person's, they commonly take them from his shop; but if not, they usually make a change with the first month's advance they get, and buy what they want where they can get it cheapest and best.
16,414. Did you ever do that?-Yes.
16,415. Do you always do it?-There are many things which the agents do not keep, and therefore we have to go to different places for what we want.
16,416. Do you get money from the agents for that purpose?- Yes; we get our first month's advance on signing, and then they will give us supplies in addition for two or three months I suppose, or as much as we have a mind to take.
16,417. Have you ever been spoken to at the Custom House, when you were getting your pay, about going down to the shop and settling your account?-I commonly settle my account before I go up to the Custom House.
16,418. But you don't pay your money until after you have been at the Custom House?-No.
16,419. Have you ever been spoken to at the Custom House by the agent, or his clerk, about going down to the office and paying the money that was due?-Yes. I was told last year by Mr. Leask's clerk, Mr. Jamieson, to go down and pay the balance which I was due.
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16,420. Did he tell you that in the Custom House or at the office?-At the office, when we got our account of wages.
16,421. That was before you went up to get your money at all?- Yes.
16,422. He told you then to come back with it?-Yes; and to pay the balance due.
16,423. Is not that always done when you go to settle your account?-No.
16,424. Is it not often done?-No; only that was the time anything of the kind had been said to me.
16,425. Did you ever hear it said to anybody else?-No.
LERWICK: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6,1872.
JOHN HARRISON, examined.
16,426. What are you?-I am a merchant in Lerwick.
16,427. Have you been for a long time a partner of the firm of Harrison & Son?-Yes, since 1856.
16,428. I understand you have had large experience in the management of the Faroe fis.h.i.+ng business?-Yes.
16,429. Have you also had some experience with regard to the ling fis.h.i.+ng?-Not a great deal; but I have had some.
16,430. Has your firm had any connection with the management of land or property in Shetland?-None whatever.
16,431. Have you neither been tacksmen nor proprietors?-My father is a proprietor to a very small extent.
16,432. But you have not been in any way dependent for your supplies of fishermen upon any interest or connection with land?-In no way whatever.
16,433. Did you find the absence of that connection with land to be any inconvenience to you in the management of your business, with regard to getting fishermen?-None whatever; but men have been hindered from engaging with us, in consequence of being under the power of tacksmen or landlords, who wished to engage them for themselves, although they would have preferred to have gone into our service.
16,434. Has that occurred in many cases?-I cannot state the number of cases, but it has occurred in many, and within recent times.
16,435. Can you give an instance of that without mentioning names?-I could not particularize the instances at the present moment, but if I had time I am prepared to bring forward more than a dozen instances within a period of between two and four years back.