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Second Shetland Truck System Report Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Second Shetland Truck System Report novel. A total of 405 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Second Shetland Truck System Report.by William Guthrie.NOTES 1.Truck - The payment of wa
Second Shetland Truck System Report.by William Guthrie.NOTES 1.Truck - The payment of wages otherwise than in money, the system or practice of such a payment. References/Edinburgh enquiry/book/archives/size of original doc. OED.The Truck Commission Enquir
- 201 8149. From what you know of the country and of the people, do you think such a system would be practicable?-I don't know if it would be practicable in some cases. With regard to the fishermen, I don't think a short-settlement system would be pra
- 202 8193. What did you get?-I had just to take anything that was in the shop 8194. Were you told that you would not get money?-Yes.8195. Did you want money?-Of course, I wanted a little.8196. How much did you ask for?-I asked for the wabster's money. It
- 203 8241. How long had that account been running?-For about two years.8242. Did you go and get the wool and make the cloth in order to settle up that account?-Yes.8243. Was your husband fis.h.i.+ng at the time when you were due that account?-No; it was my own
- 204 There were some years ago when we were getting a bigger price.Mr. Anderson gave 3s. 8d. out-takes ( in goods), and 3s. 5d.in money; but I don't recollect how long ago that was.8290. Then there were two prices for your cloth?-Yes.8291. Did you ever se
- 205 8334. Have you a piece of land there?-Yes.8335. Whom do you fish for generally?-For Inkster. I have fished for him for five years.8336. Do you settle every year in the spring?-We settle at Hallowmas for the twelve months.8337. Do you always deal in Mr. In
- 206 8379. What have you got to say about that?-At the time when I commenced to do that, I unfortunately was not clear with the man who now supplies me.8380. Who is that?-Mr. Thomas Adie.8381. Had you been a fisherman before?-No; I had been a sawyer for many y
- 207 8426. You have one lunatic from Delting, and you have another from Lunnasting?-Yes. I have not got a lunatic from Lunnasting, but a pauper that I keep at a separate house.8427. But in consequence of having that pauper you get some supplies at Vidlin?-Yes.
- 208 8473. But if they got their money in their hand, instead of running an account, would they not make a better use of it?-I don't know.Some of them might be inclined to do so and some not.8474. Might they not buy their goods cheaper if they had the money t
- 209 8519. You get supplies, as a rule, from the merchant in whose smack you go to the fis.h.i.+ng?-Yes, we get that if we require them.8520. But, as a rule, do you get your supplies from that merchant?-As a rule we do, but there are exceptions. For my own par
- 210 8563. You do not know whether that has been tried?-I do not.For my own part, I never attempted it.8564. Do you think the system of running accounts among the Faroe fishermen you have met with has led them to incur too large amounts of debt?-I am inclined
- 211 8607. At what season of the year do you go?-August and September; after we are done with the ling fis.h.i.+ng.8608. And the bargain for the herring fis.h.i.+ng is that you are to get so much a cran?-Yes; that was the agreement we had with Mr.Adie when we
- 212 8651. Was there any understanding when you took the lease of your premises at Voe, that no shop should be permitted on the Busta estate near you?-I cannot speak positively on that matter.I don't know the terms of the lease exactly. I think there was a st
- 213 8695. Why?-Because I am in debt, and I cannot pay my debt, therefore I am obliged to fish for Mr. Pole.8696. If you were to go to fish for another merchant and get paid by him in money, could you not pay off your debt to Pole, Hoseason, & Co.?-I might, bu
- 214 in summer, and I bought a sack, or two bolls, at 32s. in Lerwick.8740. What quant.i.ty of meal did you buy at Mossbank last, for which you paid 48s.?-I got it out in lesser quant.i.ties. They don't like to give very much at one time, and I had to take it
- 215 8783. Is it mostly Lord Zetland's tenants who fish for Messrs. Hay in Fetlar?-I think not.8784. Do some of Lady Nicholson's tenants fish for them also?- Yes; I should think about half-and-half.8785. Are there any other proprietors in Fetlar than Lord Ze
- 216 8829. Are they always read over?-I don't think they are always read over. Generally I read them, over before the men come up to settle, so as to have them added up and ready.8830. The ledger is written up from day to day as the goods are taken out?-Yes,
- 217 8876. How long ago?-Last year I had none but the horse.8877. Do you sell one or two beasts every year?-No; some years I sell none at all, and some years only one.8878. Where do you sell your eggs?-Just anywhere that we can get the best price for them.8879
- 218 'William Stewart, Kirkabister, Seafield, Mid Yell.'8918. Is that the only letter you have got on the subject?-The only one.8919. Have you a written tack?-No.8920. You hold your land from year to year?-Yes.8921. Have you, since you received that letter,
- 219 8965. What price do you pay for meal at Seafield?-I think the first I got was 22s. 6d. I think the last was much about the same, but there might be a difference of 6d. or so.8966. Was it of good quality?-It was very good.8967. Where does your wife sell he
- 220 9012. Why? If they had agreed to fish for you, were they not bound to fulfil their bargain?-I thought I could not legally hold them, and I just let them go.9013. Were you not afraid of them suffering for it if they fulfilled their bargain with you?-They m
- 221 9059. You sell to the merchants as a sort of wholesale dealer?- Yes.9060. The price per pound of that worsted varies according to the quality?-Yes.9061. It does not correspond with the price per cut in any way?- No. Of course the finer the worsted the fin
- 222 Mid Yell, January 17, 1872, ROBERT SMITH, examined.9104. You are now a fisherman and tenant at Burravoe, on the land of Mr. Henderson?-I am.9105. Were you formerly resident on the island of Samphray?- Yes. I was there for 35 years.9106. For whom did you f
- 223 9148. When do you generally go to Lerwick to engage for the whaling?-About the end of February or beginning of March.9149. Do you go straight to Messrs. Hay's office and tell them you want an engagement?-No, I don't go straight there; but I have always
- 224 Gatherer?-Yes, it was paid at the custom-house. I think I got an account of wages for that too, but I could not say exactly.The oil on which the money was paid was 42 tons. The first payment of oil-money was upon 150 tons, making 192 altogether.9196. Was
- 225 9239. Was that a written notice?-Yes.9240. Have you got it now?-No, I have lost it.9241. Did you pay the fine?-Yes.9242. Did you not try to get off with it?-No.9243. Did you think you were legally bound to pay it?-No; and that was the reason why I would n
- 226 9284. Who do you fish for now?-For Mr. Adie, the same as Johnston does.9285. Do you deal in the same way as he described?-Yes.9286. How do you get your supplies, for your family?-Sometimes Mr. Adie will send us meal for our families from Aberdeen or from
- 227 9329. Don't you think it would be better if the people here were paid ready money for everything, instead of running such long accounts, and settling only once year?-It might, but I don't know how things would go then. If we were to pay ready money for
- 228 9376. The day-book and ledger and fish-book are, I understand, the only books which are used at Greenbank and Gloup?-At Gloup we have a sort of wastebook, in which any goods are entered which are bought by anybody during the season when we have goods ther
- 229 9423. Can you explain how the current price of the season is ascertained, according to which you settle with your fishermen?- I cannot explain it exactly; but I believe some of the curers may correspond with one another about what they consider to be a fa
- 230 9470. Had you anything to do with settling these accounts?-No; he settled with the men himself.9471. Did you keep the books in which the goods taken from the shop were entered?-Yes; the daybook.9472. Do you remember anything about the prices charged there
- 231 9519. Therefore you will have the same two boats' crews of Mrs.Budge's tenants?-I hope so.9520. It was an understanding between you and Mr. Sievwright when you took the premises that these men were to fish for you?- Yes.9521. Was that understanding put
- 232 9565. Have you no account running anywhere just now?-No.9566. Are you not in debt to anybody?-I may be about 1s. or 2s.in debt at the shop at Linkshouse, but that is all.9567. If you engage to fish for Mr. Leask at Ulsta, will you open an account at his s
- 233 9610. You hold a bit of land here?-Yes.9611. Do you also go to the ling fis.h.i.+ng?-Yes, when I am at home any time; but I generally go to the whaling.9612. Do you go to Lerwick for an engagement?-Yes. I generally engage through Messrs. Hay.9613. Do you
- 234 9655. How long have you been in the country?-Between 15 and 16 years.9656. Have you had experience as to the relations existing between proprietors of land and fish-merchants in Shetland?- A little.9657. Would you explain the nature of the arrangements th
- 235 9703. But the price of the salt is included in the 50s.?-No. I have my information from a curer of long standing, but who is not now in the trade.9704. Have you any information to give with regard to the obligations of fishermen upon other estates in Shet
- 236 9739. Are you always paid for them in goods?-No. I have got cash. I knit superior articles, and I have sometimes got as much as 30s. for knitting one silk shawl. That was not the price of the shawl: it was merely for the knitting.9740. But when you sell a
- 237 Edmonstone died. I knitted for her, and sometimes I got cash from her, and sometimes lines for goods on the shop.9788. But that was some time ago?-Yes.9789. Do you sometimes knit for John Johnston?-Yes. I get worsted from him to knit, and I take it back t
- 238 9832. Did you remember that you had got all the articles, and the price of them, when they were read over to you?-Yes.9833. Did you order them?-Yes; I either got them myself or some member of my family brought them home.9834. But are you sure that you can
- 239 9881. Have you not sold any other stock except these two cattle for the last five or six years?-No.9882. Is there any other way you have of getting money except by selling your stock and your fish?-No.9883. Then you will not have much money pa.s.sing thro
- 240 9928. But where the fish-merchant is not the tacksman, is it the practice that he generally settles with the landlord for the rent?-I think so, or he becomes accountable to the landlord for the amount of the rent.9929. Do you know whether the rent has bee
- 241 9976. I suppose very little money pa.s.ses into the hands of the fishermen in the course of the year?-There is sometimes a good deal. If a fisherman has money to get he always gets it, so far as I am aware.9977. That is to say, if he has a balance at the
- 242 10,022. But with those who were in debt, that further credit would have the effect of leaving them much more in debt than they were before?-Of course; very much more.10,023. Is that now in the course of being paid off?-Yes; it is coming back to us very fa
- 243 10,071. You said you were in possession of the sale rolls of all the sales for some years back?-Almost them all. It was I who first started sales in the North Isles. I began them at Cullivoe when I was there. There never had been any sales until I got the
- 244 10,120. Could you not leave it to the contractor to make these advances?-It is quite optional. There is nothing compulsory in this arrangement at all.10,121. The men don't need to come to your shop for the advances unless they like?-Not at all. I don't
- 245 10,167. You have told them that they are under no such obligation?-Yes.10,168. But, in point of fact, most of them do sell their fish to you?-They do.10,169. And, in point of fact, most of them do sell their eggs and b.u.t.ter to you?-I think the great bu
- 246 Baltasound, Unst, January 19, 1872, PETER JOHNSTON, examined.10,206. You are registrar of this parish, and you live at Balliasta?-Yes.10,207. You were formerly a fisherman, and you are acquainted with the way in which the fis.h.i.+ng trade is carried on?-
- 247 10,248. I suppose few of them care to keep pa.s.sbooks?-Some of them keep pa.s.s-books over the whole season, but others of them do not. Here [showing account in shop ledger] is a sample of the transactions for this season. The amount of that account is c
- 248 10,295. That was done with the view of reducing his debt?-Yes; the son was living with the father, and it was done to reduce his father's debt.10,296. This account has not been settled yet?-No, and this year's rent has not been debited to the account. W
- 249 10,342. Don't you think you would be able to buy your goods cheaper if you could pay for them at the time?-I don't know.Baltasound, Unst, January 19, 1872, PETER SMITH, examined.10,343. Are you a fisherman at Westing?-I was formerly a fisherman, but it
- 250 10,386. You pay your rent to them, and deal with them at their shop at Haroldswick?-Yes, I get all my goods there.10,387. Do you deal anywhere else?-No.10,388. Why?-For want of money.10,389. How do you want money?-Because I don't have it.10,390. Have you
- 251 10,433. Who is paymaster there now?-Mr. Gardner. I think the men are paid at his house.10,434. The company have no shop?-No.10,435. And Mr. Gardner has no connection with any shop?- None whatever.Baltasound, Unst, January 19, 1872, GILBERT WILLIAMSON, exa
- 252 Baltasound, Unst, January 19, 1872, ALEXANDER SANDISON (recalled), examined.10,480. Are you agent at Uyea Sound for the s.h.i.+pwrecked Mariners' Fund?-I was agent, but there are no members now.10,481. Have the men ceased to subscribe?-Yes. I think I hav
- 253 10,525. Did you find that it worked fairly well with you?-I had not enough experience of it to say that, because the other system had been so long in existence that it was difficult to make an exception.10,526. You mean that the credit system has prevaile
- 254 10,565. But could not the fish-merchant make his arrangements so as to derive a sufficient profit from the sale of his fish without depending upon the profit that is derived from the sale of his goods?-It would be perfectly possible to make an arrangement
- 255 10,609. Do you pay the same price there?-Much about it.10,610. Is there any difference?-Not very much.10,611. Is there any difference at all?-I don't know; I have never seen much difference.10,612. Is the price of meal the same at the two places?-I alway
- 256 10,655. Do you think it is possible for a shopkeeper to prosper in Shetland who is not engaged in the fishcuring business?-I think so.10,656. Even under the present system?-Yes; because there is a good deal of money among the people, irrespective of the f
- 257 10,703. Have you formed any opinion as to the effect of that system on the character of the people in general?-[Page 261] I have. I think the present system has a very deteriorating effect upon the character of the people generally. I quite agree with wha
- 258 Baltasound, Unst, January 19, 1872, ROBERT GRAY, examined.10,751. Are you a fisherman here?-I am. I fish to Mr. Sandison at the station.10,752. Where do you live?-I live at Snarravoe.10,753. You have heard the evidence to-day, and you desire to come forwa
- 259 10,794. Do you think you could manage to get out to the deep sea with such a boat as that in winter?-Yes, we could manage to get there; but the difficulty would be to manage the sailing in of our lines. The way we do just now is to haul them in.10,795. Yo
- 260 10,841. A man cannot stay outside in these small boats?-No; the weather is always getting worse, and the sea getting higher and higher on them, and they must run for the laud.10,842. But with a larger boat you might run out to sea in a storm?-Yes.10,483.
- 261 10,885. Were they desired to inform the tenants that Mr. Leask was undertaking the fis.h.i.+ng himself, and that he expected the tenants to engage in his boats' crews?-At that time Mr. Leask could get more men amongst his tenants than he could employ, an
- 262 The rents are paid regularly, and he has nothing to do with the tenants except to draw their rent at the term.10,930. Then what you deny in that sentence of Mr. Hamilton's Report is merely his statement as to the extent of the holdings of the men?-Yes. I
- 263 10,977. When you say that it was done with the man's consent, do you mean that at settling time the agent, who was aware that you were a creditor of the man, would arrange with him to hand over part of his wages to his former creditor?-Quite so, if the m
- 264 11,025. When was he asked to come?-I suppose he never was asked particularly; but it is understood that every man has to pay his debt when he is able.11,026. But you say that he declined?-I believe he declined on the ground that he required the money. I d
- 265 11,073. Have you had any case of as early a discharge in the case of a whaling voyage?-Here [showing] is the crew of the 'Polynia'last year. Nineteen men were landed on 26th October, and they were all paid off and discharged by 29th November, or in abou
- 266 11,119. Then, on May 27, he gets 7 in cash; July 10, 15s.; September 11, 2; and on December 4 he is credited with second payment for sealing voyage, 2, 5s. On March 6 he receives 2s.in cash; and on the same date he is settled with, by receiving 3, 1s. 3d.
- 267 11,167. But with men from the North Isles, is it not the case that the settlement for the second payment takes place when they come in to arrange for the next year's voyage?-Yes.11,168. And when they take supplies at that time, are these put into the acc
- 268 11,214. So that your books do not show, without calculation, what amount of cash was transferred before the s.h.i.+pping master?-They show the account exactly as it is, irrespective of the settlement before the s.h.i.+pping master.11,215. In that way, is
- 269 11,261. Do you mean that when they are settled with the end of the week they get the balance they have receive in money and spend it in the shop?-Yes, they very often, do that. If they require to spend it at all, they very likely spend it where they know
- 270 11,307. Are you the shopkeeper at Scalloway for Messrs. Hay & Co.?-I am.11,308. They have a curing establishment here, and buy a quant.i.ty of fish?-Yes.11,309. They also have a shop in which goods of all descriptions are sold?-Yes, all that are generally
- 271 11,355. Are your supplies of goods got from Lerwick from Messrs.Hay?-Some come from Lerwick, and some come direct from the south.11,356. Are they invoiced to you at wholesale price, or at the price at which you are expected to sell them?-They are invoiced
- 272 11s. 71/2d.Tea, 1s. 4d.; sugar, 61/2d.; 01 101/2 Tobacco, 8d.; oatmeal, 1s. 3d.,01 11 Soap, 21/2d.; sund. 51/2d.,00 8 Cotton, 11d., 00 11 0541/2 Cash,063 01171/2 .8s. 3d.Tobacco, 0 1 0 Tea, 008 Cash, 0 6 7 0 8 3 [Page 280].8s. 3d.Oatmeal, 1s. 101/2d.; to
- 273 11,440. Has the man checked his account in any way before you send it in?-If they choose, they can get their accounts read over to them. Some of them have pa.s.s-books, while others have only their accounts read over.11,441. Do they all get them read over
- 274 11,487. What was the name of the person from whom you bought the soap on the occasion you have mentioned?-I think it was either Margaret or Catherine Irvine.11,488. Was that a very exceptional case?-I should think so.11,489. Have you not frequently bought
- 275 11,532. Do you knit with your own wool, or with worsted that is given out to you?-On several occasions, within the last three years, I have bought some Scotch worsted; but before that I always spun the wool myself, and sold my own goods. I never knitted a
- 276 11,578. Have you ever had occasion to exchange any of the goods which you got from the merchants for your hosiery?-I have exchanged tea for meal with the country people round about, but nothing else. I took more tea from the merchant than I intended to us
- 277 Scalloway, January 22, 1872, ISABELLA HENDERSON, examined.11,624. You live in Scalloway with your father and sister?-Yes.11,625. Is your father an old man?-Yes. He is between sixty and seventy years old. He is not fit to work much, but he goes to sea occa
- 278 Scalloway, January 22, 1872, Mrs. ANN LEASK or INKSTER, examined.11,671. You live in Scalloway?-I do.11,672. Have you sometimes knitted hosiery goods for sale?-Yes; I have knitted some for Mr. Sinclair.11,673. Have you been paid for them in money or in go
- 279 11,713. Why is that?-Because when they are out at the fis.h.i.+ng for the larger merchants, it is better for them to take their supplies at their shops.11,714. But why could they not deal with you as well?-The larger merchants are more able to give them c
- 280 11,761. Did you sell your things often in that way?-Yes, very often.11,762. Every month?-I don't think I did it every month.11,763. Did you do it two or three times every year?-Yes; oftener than that.11,764. How much goods did you sell in that way?-If I
- 281 11,808. Are accounts kept with any of these men?-With one of them who superintends the bringing home of the oysters, there is an account kept.11,809. How often is that account settled?-Just whenever he wants a settlement. He always gets money with him to
- 282 11,857. Are you aware that complaints are made with regard to the landlord's claim to have one-third of the oil?-Yes; there have been complaints made. I had a share in the whales that were driven ash.o.r.e, and I wrote to the Board of Trade about it, but
- 283 11,897. And I suppose you are aware that knitting is almost invariably paid for in goods and not in money?-In listening to the examinations here to-day, I have heard conflicting accounts about that. One woman said they got no money, and another said she g
- 284 11,942. Do the other people on Mr. Bruce's estate who fish for you, and whose rent you pay, deal entirely in your shop for their supplies?-I think the most part of them do.11,943. Is that one reason why you pay their rents for them?-I suppose so.11,944.
- 285 11,991. You had not many ling fishermen?-No, only a few boats.11,992. It is the Dunrossness men you speak of as the ling fishermen?-Yes.11,993. The Scalloway men are not ling fishermen?-No. I think there was only one boat that went from Scalloway.[Page 29
- 286 12,033. And with him, as you said, you settle every year?-Yes.12,034. Are there many of these accounts in your business?- There may be some hundreds of them; I cannot say how many.12,035. Does not every one of your customers open an account in that way?-N
- 287 12,080. What did they say was their reason?-They considered themselves as a sort of tied down to sell to one; but I know they were not tied down, and that they could have sold their fish to any one they chose.12,081. But they did say to you that they were
- 288 12,128. What is that security?-The men are more independent, and if they sell their fish south, they are sure to get their money at the time.12,129. But you told me that these men are under some kind of obligation to sell their fish to Garriock & Co.?-The
- 289 12,175. Did you mean by the offer you made to them that you would give them a price fixed at the beginning of the season?- No; I could not fix a price then. I meant that I would give them as much as any other fish-buyer who was in the trade.12,176. Did yo
- 290 12,221. Is that in the same parish, but at some distance from your place?-Yes; I think it is about eight miles away.12,222. Your father is in delicate health, and has not been able to come to-day?-Yes. He has not been able to come in consequence of the ro
- 291 12,269. Do they get the most of their supplies from there?-I think so.12,270. Do these men live near your shop, or are they living at a distance from you?-They live pretty near me. Some of them are near neighbours, and others live about three or four mile
- 292 'We employed last year 40 beach boys, from 13 to 17 years of age. All had cash to get at settlement, and none are in advance on the coming season.'HOSIERY.-We take hosiery in barter for any sort of goods required, including meal and provisions. We have
- 293 [Page 305]12,337. Did you think these restrictions were such that the people might reasonably complain of them?-I thought they had not much to complain of.12,338. At that time the lease of Messrs. Hay & Co. was within a year or two of its termination?-Yes
- 294 great alarm amongst the people, because they were afraid they would be left to their own resources.12,382. In consequence of that you continued to supply the islanders?-Yes, we went on as before.12,383. Was it previous to that that the last attempt was ma
- 295 12,429. What are the other conditions in your agreement?-The owners bind themselves to find the s.h.i.+p, and everything relating to her; to provide the coals necessary for the voyage; and to give the men an allowance of 8 lbs. of bread per week. The men,
- 296 12,477. Do you keep any account with women engaged in the curing?-No. These women are only employed by the day.12,478. I believe that you are yourself a skilful boatman, and acquainted with the fis.h.i.+ng in all its details? Do you think it possible in S
- 297 12,526. May some of these sons be as young as twelve or fourteen years of age?-They begin about fourteen to go to the fis.h.i.+ng, as well as to go to the beach. It appears to me that Mr. Hamilton's report has been rounded very much on hearsay, and on op
- 298 12,573. Did you ever pay less than the current price?-No; but we have sometimes paid more.12,574. The men have no voice at all in settling what the price shall be: it is left entirely to the merchants, is it not?-I think it is left very much to the mercha
- 299 12,620. Who do you fish for?-Mr. Adie.12,621. Are you bound to fish for Mr. Adie, or can you engage to fish with anybody you like?-We are bound to fish for Mr. Adie.12,622. How do you know that?-Because Mr. Adie told us we were not at liberty to fish for
- 300 12,668. Did you get a receipt from Mr. Robertson for the money?-No.12,669. At what season of the year was that?-In January.12,670. And you think that was about four years ago?-Yes.12,671. That would probably be about January 1868?-I think so, but I cannot