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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
- 1 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
- 2 There are bulky sea-chests, with smaller ones on the top of them; chairs, with generally an effort at an easy one; a wooden bench, a table, beds, spades, fis.h.i.+ng-rods, baskets, and a score of other little things, which help, after all, to make it a do
- 3 '564. Do you pay your rent to young Mr. Bruce?-Yes.''565. And does he give you a receipt for it in his own name?-We settle once a year with him for our fis.h.i.+ng, and for the store goods we have got, and rent and everything together.'
- 4 OLLABERRY.The tenants on the Ollaberry property in Northmaven parish are obliged to fish to a firm, of which the princ.i.p.al member is Mr.John Anderson, Hillswick, brother of the proprietor and tacksman of the estate. There are fifty or sixty tenants on
- 5 'Many of the fishermen in this country (as, indeed, many of the poorer cla.s.ses everywhere) are unable, from want of thrift and care, to manage their own matters in a satisfactory manner, and require to be thought for and acted for, and generally tr
- 6 '10,179. As to the peats and scattalds, he has no security at all?- None.'The rental annexed to the leases contains a list of 170 tenants, paying 834, 19s. 4d., exclusive of certain farms which do not fall under the lease until the expiry of cur
- 7 There are, of course, differences in the readiness with which cash is advanced by the various merchants, as the returns made to me show. Thus there is unanimous testimony to the fact, that Mr.John Bruce, jun., whose 'bondage' and prices were mos
- 8 The real or imaginary necessity under which the men are placed, of dealing at the merchant's shop, is demonstrated by their taking meal and other bulky articles a distance of many miles to their own houses, although there are shops nearer home where
- 9 THE EXTENT OF INDEBTEDNESS.ADVANCES ARE MADE UPON AN ENGAGEMENT TO FISH.The evidence taken in Shetland does not confirm the statement made before this Commission in 1871, that 'the success of a merchant in Shetland consists in being able to acc.u.mul
- 10 '8699. When did you know last? Have you made your settlement this year?-Yes.''8700. Don't you know what you were charged for meal then?- No.''8701. Do you ask the price of your meal as you buy it?- Sometimes; but we must take
- 11 444555666 A274101310114385962 *B73180109061141091/2 *C49106578021/2115283/4 D178921/29993933361/2 *E54010113436167 *F,9900133017335120 G,?31040 *H,1631891151114197311 J,16114111/2623486086 K,600102196 Q12385112410535116 *M,4591231/21800721/23851911/2 O,33
- 12 * Of this sum, 174, 19s, 9d., there was due by 13 men, the crew of one unsuccessful vessel, 105, 14s. 4d. The fishery of 1871 was comparatively a failure, and left many of the men in debt; while the previous year was very good, and the men were nearly all
- 13 Of an inquiry regarding the existence and effects of Truck, the quality and prices of the goods furnished by the employer in lieu of money forms a necessary part. In Lerwick, as might be expected, compet.i.tion, and the greater facility of communication w
- 14 [T. Hutchison, 12,658; J. Robertson, sen., 14,569; P. Henderson, 12,756; D. Anderson, 12,795; A. Humphrey, 12,826; T. Hutchison, 12,685.]VIDLIN Although Mr. Robertson carries on an extensive trade in meal at Lerwick, and there sells at town prices, his sh
- 15 [G. Jamieson, 13,361; A. J.Grierson, J. Bruce jun., G. Irvine, W.Goudie, 4369; J. Burgess, 5106.]FAROE FIs.h.i.+NG.The cod fis.h.i.+ng in smacks, chiefly on the banks near the Faroe Islands, has become an important branch of commerce in Shetland, In 1871
- 16 [T. Wilson, p. 425; J. Bruce, jun. p. 330; T. Wilson, 16,656.]The island is the property of Mr. John Bruce, jun., of Sumburgh.Before 1864 it belonged to Mr. Stewart of Brough, a proprietor in Orkney, and was held in tack by merchants of Orkney, who bought
- 17 It is explained to the men, when they first come to the agent's office and have their ledger account adjusted, that the 'account of wages' settled at the Mercantile Marine Office does not include the agent's account of supplies, and th
- 18 SALE OR BARTER OF LINES It is natural to suppose that doc.u.ments of this kind should come to be used as a sort of currency, in a district where money is so scarce as Shetland. This custom is not so wide-spread as might have been expected; but that lines
- 19 Nicholson, 3510; L. Leslie, 5093.]In the rural districts, the custom of selling goods at two prices, according as the payment is in money, or in knitted articles or yarn, still prevails. By Messrs. Pole, Hoseason, & Co., it has been given up quite lately.
- 20 The first of these reasons is felt and stated by some of the fishermen themselves. But are Shetland fishermen more improvident than other people similarly situated would be?Under the present system of credit transactions, indeed, it would be strange if a
- 21 10. Every tenant shall be bound to cultivate his lands in a proper and husbandlike manner, with reference to the best practice of husbandry in the district, and to consume upon his lands the whole straw, hay, and fodder grown thereon, and not to sell or r
- 22 As there has been, for some time past, many vague reports throughout the island regarding the change of system in the management of the tenantry, consequent on the withdrawal from them of the scattalds, which of late have been looked upon as more valuable
- 23 1 Wages of four hired men (generally strangers from the Highlands or Islands) and a boy, ...... 3000 2. Their lodgings, ..... 30 0 3. Their allowance of meal, .... 40 0 4. Cost of barking nets, .... 300 5. Cartage and drying-green for nets,. . 300 6. Harb
- 24 As to your question why the scattholds remain undivided, the general backwardness of improvement, and want of agricultural skill and capital, are the immediate causes. The present tenantry are so ignorant of the means of turning these commons to any prope
- 25 21. Or for provisions?-Yes.22. And you always got what you wanted for these purposes?- Yes. When I asked for a few s.h.i.+llings of money for knitting, I always got it.23. Do you live by yourself?-Yes.24. And not in family with any others?-No.25. Do you m
- 26 69. Do you live in Lerwick?-Yes.70. Your mother is a widow?-Yes.71. Do you support yourself by knitting?-Yes; and partly by working outside at the fish.72. What have you to do with the fish?-I help to cure them in the fish-curing establishment.73. For who
- 27 117. Do they give any reason for that?-I don't know. They say it is a money article.118. Does that mean ready-money?-Yes.119. It is cotton or tea you generally get?-Yes; or any other small thing except money. We can get anything except it.120. You wo
- 28 164. Have you ever asked money for your shawls?-Yes; often.165. From whom have you asked money?-I have asked it from the whole of the merchants in the town, but they are not used to giving money.166. Who are the merchants in the town?-Mr. Sinclair and Mr.
- 29 213. Are you working at it?-I have not begun to it just yet.214. Have you anything else to sell just now?-Yes.215. Is it something you have knitted with your own wool?-Yes; but I have sent it south.216. Is that because you expect to get money there?-Yes;
- 30 261. You have more money pa.s.sing through your hands now than you had formerly?-Yes. I am able now to pay my rent.262. How did you pay your rent formerly?-I did not require it then so much. My father was alive then.263. But you have now to pay rent?-Yes;
- 31 Lerwick, January 1, 1872, Mrs. ANDRINA SIMPSON, examined.305. Are you a knitter in Lerwick?-Yes.306. For whom do you knit?-For myself.307. Have you always done so?-I have always done so for a good many years back.308. Where do you purchase your wool?-I pu
- 32 351. Do you live with your father?-Yes.352. Therefore you don't want much money for your own purposes?-We can never get any money. We would be very glad to get it if we could.353. Have you asked money for your shawls instead of goods?- Yes.354. What
- 33 397. Had you made up your mind before you went there as to what you wanted to buy?-Yes.398. And you got what you wanted?-I had to take what he had. I had no other chance.399. Did you want these goods at that time?-If I had got the money, I would not have
- 34 446. Have you ever bought worsted for your own knitting?-No; I could not get it bought, because I was not in the way of earning money.447. Have you tried to buy it?-I could not try without the money.He would not give worsted for nothing.448. And you had n
- 35 494. What does he supply them with?-Just with material. He also keeps meal; and they take it from him, more or less, as their families require it. He keeps other things besides, such as lines, hooks, and tar for the boats.495. Are these things which you g
- 36 540. You are a fisherman at Cunningsburgh?-Yes.541. Do you fish for Mr. Tulloch?-No; I fish for James Smith.542. You have heard the evidence of the previous witness, Andrew Tulloch?-Yes.543. Is the statement you wish to make very much the same as his?-Ver
- 37 586. 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 ha
- 38 632. Was there not a copy of it sent to each tenant?-I don't think there was. It is eleven years ago; and I don't remember any of the particulars that were in it.633. Do you mean to say that that letter was the beginning of the understanding whi
- 39 681. But you were obliged to weigh them in order to find out how much was Mr. Bruce's share?-We were obliged to weigh the fish in order to know how they were to be divided among ourselves, and they had to lie for a whole day until weights were got.68
- 40 730. Was it the case before Mr. Bruce took the fis.h.i.+ng into his own hands?-Yes.731. So that many men in those times would be unable to sell their fish to another merchant than Messrs. Hay or Mr. Robertson, who had the fis.h.i.+ng then?-Yes; of course
- 41 765. You say in that letter, 'We are bound by agreement to fish to our landlord, but no price is agreed upon until the time of settlement, which occurs about once a year. We have then to take what price offered; and if we or our sons fish to any othe
- 42 815. Do you get money advanced to you in the course of the season when you ask for it?-Yes, I have always, or generally, got it when I asked for it.816. Suppose that at the close of the fis.h.i.+ng season-that is, in September-you were to ask for all the
- 43 863. But when you get the whales you get two-thirds of the oil?- We do.864. And you can sell that in any market you like-I believe we can.865. Do you get cash for it?-Yes.866. So that there is no truck there?-No; none.867. Do you dispose of the oil yourse
- 44 912. That rent is paid for a small piece of ground?-Yes.913. Is there a right to the pasture in the scattald besides?-Yes.914. Your scattalds in Burra are not extensive or of much value?- No; they are of very little value.915. Do you know of any other agr
- 45 962. Is there anything else you wish to say?-You have not asked what may be the difference on a hundredweight of fish, if we had the advantage of selling them for ourselves, as against what we get for them under the present system. I believe the differenc
- 46 1008. You say you signed the obligation about eight years ago.Have you ever endeavoured or wished to break through it and to obtain your liberty?-No.1009. You have never attempted that?-No.1010. Does that obligation bind your family as well as yourself?-
- 47 1057. Is that because Messrs. Hay have ceased to require payment of liberty money?-Yes; they thought the thing was not legal, and they have given it up.1058. Are your sons living in your house still?-One of them is, but the other one is married, and is aw
- 48 1103. How do you make your living?-By fis.h.i.+ng, and sometimes by going as master of a small coasting vessel.1104. Does that vessel belong to you?-No; I sometimes get employment from the owners in Lerwick,-from Mr. Leask, or Messrs. Hay, or others.1105.
- 49 1151. But in what way did you become bound? Did you merely promise by word of mouth that you would pay it?-Yes; we had to become good for it.1152. But you did not sign any agreement?-No; we handed over the money-the sum of 6.1153. Was that money which you
- 50 1199. Do you mean that the people at the fis.h.i.+ng had to do so?- No; the people whom they left at home got so little that they could hardly subsist upon it, and they had to try some other means in order to enable them to live.1200. What other means had
- 51 1242. Did you fish for Mouat when he was there?-I was bound by the proprietor to do so.1243. Had you signed any agreement to do that?-I was never called upon to sign any agreement, but Mouat told me that his agreement with the proprietor was that I was bo
- 52 1291. Did you sell them to your neighbours?-I could not sell them to my neighbours, because they were in the same state as I was myself.1292. Where did you sell them?-Sometimes we would take a little and fall in with a boy or a laddie, who would buy a bit
- 53 1340. Have you got that letter?-I don't know. I don't know what became of it. I think I burnt it; but there ought to be letters in the neighbourhood that came from Mouat at that time.1341. You said you did not get all the goods you wanted at Mou
- 54 1388. Then you knew what your rent was?-Yes. Of course he told us what our rent was.1389. And it was accounted for at the settlement?-Yes. At the settlement he summed up our accounts, and told us we were due so much-so much for rent and so much for goods.
- 55 1435. It is just part of your time that you can give?-Yes.1436. Have you come down just now for the purpose of selling the articles you have knitted?-Yes.1437. How many shawls did you bring with you this year?-Two.1438. That is less than usual?-Yes.1439.
- 56 1483. The goods you got at the shop are entered in the first part of the book, and then at the end there are entries of the knitted work which you have brought back to the shop?-Yes; I knitted a great deal before I took the pa.s.s-book out at all.1484. Th
- 57 1532. Did she say she would give you that much, without your asking?-Yes.1533. What did you do with the moleskins?-I sold them.1534. How much of them did you take?-21/2 yards.1535. What was the price of them?-2s. 8d. a yard.1536. Was there anything else y
- 58 1581. Do you find that the women here are anxious to work for you?-Yes; they are anxious to get money.1582. You think they would much rather work, for you than for a merchant who keeps a shop?-Yes; I am never at a loss for them.When I am in a hurry I alwa
- 59 1627. Is that the only way you have of getting a living?-No; sometimes I have to take things out of the shop and sell them for money.1628. To whom do you sell them?-To any neighbour or any person who requires them.1629. Do you do that often?-No; I have no
- 60 1673. Do you sell your shawls to any person in particular?-Yes; to Mr Robert Sinclair.1674. Are you paid for them in goods?-Yes, and a little in money. I always get some money from him to buy the worsted with.1675. Would you be content with a lower price
- 61 1720. Were you ever told that worsted was a money article?-No; I never was told that, so far as I can remember.1721. Have you dealt in any other shop than Mr. Sinclair's in this way?-No; I have knitted for two and a half years for Mr, Sinclair.1722.
- 62 1767. Did you ask for money?-Yes; I asked for a little, and I got the sum which is marked on the line as having been paid to me in cash.1768. He gave you 6s. in cash?-Yes.1769. Was that all you wanted?-Yes. I did not ask for that sum, I only said I wanted
- 63 1811. Is it not rather a favour to you that the merchant gives you money when you ask it?-I don't know whether it is a favour to me, but I always get it when I ask it. But I don't have such a great run of shawls as some of the other women have.1
- 64 1858. Do you generally take the whole value of your shawls in goods?-Yes, I always do.1859. And no money pa.s.ses between you at all?-No, not since I was married; but previously, when I asked him for money, I always got it.1860. Did you generally ask for
- 65 1906. When you sell to him, are you paid in money?-I have asked for part of both-money and goods-and I got it.1907. You did not ask for the whole in money?-No.1908. Why?-Just because I thought it was not the custom of the place.1909. Did you want the whol
- 66 1953. Do you know that any one can get money for their goods if they want it?-I know there are plenty who get it.1954. But can any one get whatever money they require for their goods?-I don't know. I only know that there are many who want money; but
- 67 1998. But if they want the money, can they not have it from the merchants if they ask for it?-I always got it when I asked it. For any others, I cannot say.1999. Do you dress goods for any of the merchants?-No.2000. Only for the knitters?-Yes.2001. You ar
- 68 2046. Did he pay you money across the counter?-Yes.2047. Were you ever obliged to take goods from him?-Yes; many a time.[Page 40]2048. Did he tell you he would not give you money?-No; he did not say that.2049. What did he say?-He just gave me anything I w
- 69 2093. You have to get as much as will pay your rent?-Yes.2094. How do you get your provisions?-We get money whenever we ask it, besides what is taken for our rent.2095. Are you tenants of Mr Sinclair?-Yes.2096. You have a house from him, and he keeps your
- 70 2138. It was barter in either case, but was the trade usually carried on by purchases from people who knitted their own wool?-I think in former times it was altogether that. It is only within the last twenty or thirty years that the women have been employ
- 71 2185. I am speaking now entirely of the purchase system. I will ask you something afterwards with regard to the system of knitting with the merchants' own wool; but you understand that you have hitherto been speaking about the system of purchasing?-Y
- 72 2231. The 11s. 11d., I think you say, shows a balance upon goods got by her?-Yes; I presume it is the balance, after deducting what she got for that work.2232. What would she probably get for the work bestowed by her upon 2 oz. black mohair?-I suppose tha
- 73 2278. Are they generally paid for in goods?-Yes; I may say universally.2279. Are they made by the people in the country rather than by those in Lerwick?-There are very few made in Lerwick; all the hosiery proper is made in the country districts. When I sp
- 74 2323. But princ.i.p.ally on the workmans.h.i.+p?-Yes, it depends in great measure on that; and that is the reason why there are constant disputes with the knitters. Two knitters may come in with two shawls made of the same material and the same size and y
- 75 2369. Do you keep sugar?-No; I do not sell sugar now.2370. Besides that trade, you are employed in the purchase and sale of hosiery?-I am.2371. Your hosiery is obtained in two ways: either women that knit upon your employment or from parties who come with
- 76 2418. Is there any one else you wish to mention?-There are many cases in which I paid cash for hosiery articles, although I could not name the persons just now. They were people whose faces I knew, but I cannot recollect their names.2419. Were these cases
- 77 2466. I suppose you know that if you give them that worsted in return for their hosiery, they will bring it back to you?-They may, or they may not.2467. Do they not bring it to somebody?-They may to somebody, but perhaps not to me. They may have an order
- 78 2511. Does that mean that you have issued some 6000 or 8000 of these lines in two years?-I suppose so. It will just mean about that.2512. Can you give me any idea, or do your books give any idea, within what time these lines are brought back to be liquida
- 79 2559. Are there dealers in the north isles who send goods to you?-Either dealers or private individuals may send us falls or various other things, and the entries with regard to them will show the prices given for them.2560. These transactions will appear
- 80 2607. What is their reason for wanting cash, if they are as well off with goods?-I suppose it is just for same reason, that we all want cash.2608. But if they get goods, why should they not be content with that?-I don't know. We have no objection to
- 81 2653. You allow something for interest on the price of the wool?-Yes. I say that is what I would have to pay for a shawl of that value in cash if I were buying it, or if I were trying to get it made.2654. You would pay 26s. 6d., and you would sell it at 3
- 82 2699. And are these balances generally settled up within a short time afterwards?-Generally.2700. The party comes back soon to you for goods?-Sometimes soon, and sometimes she delays a good while.2701. Is it usual for a party who has a balance of that kin
- 83 2747. The English wool would be about 3s. cheaper?-Yes.2748. And the shawl would sell for how much?-I suppose for about that much less, or about 27s.2749. A shawl exactly the same in other respects would be made out of English wool for 3s. less?-Yes; for
- 84 2791. Have you ever been asked to give money in return for these lines instead of goods?-I cannot charge my memory just now with any case of that kind, but sometimes it may happen. The lines are only given out for goods purchased, and not for knitting; an
- 85 2837. May there be 2s.?-I cannot say exactly. Perhaps if they come with a shawl for which they are to get 8s. or 10s., they may get 1s. or 2s. upon it, but if they did not ask it, they would not get it.2838. The understanding is that you pay them goods?-Y
- 86 2886. But if the people have bargained with you, and you had offered them goods at a somewhat lower price for cash, and if a line was then offered to you in the way you have mentioned, would you not refuse to take the line in exchange for the goods?- No,
- 87 2930. Are his fish from that fishery landed in Bressay?-Yes.2931. How many people are generally employed there?-The numbers vary according to the demand for work. They may range from 80 to 60 hands daily for five months in the year, during the fish-curing
- 88 [Page 66]Lerwick: Sat.u.r.day, January 6, 1872.-Mr. Guthrie.MALCOLM MALCOLMSON, examined 2978. Are you a fisherman at Channerwick?-I am.2979. Do you hold land there?-My father holds land under Mr.Bruce of Simbister.2980. Robert Mouat was formerly tacksma
- 89 3019. Do you hold a piece of land under Mr. Bruce of Simbister?-Yes.3020. It was formerly included in the tack to Robert Mouat?-Yes.3021. Were you bound to fish for Mouat?-Yes.3022. Did you give your fish to any other merchant during the time of his tack?
- 90 3060. You find that from your work-book?-Yes. When we asked her why she kept the work so long, she replied that she had so much out-door work to do, that she had scarcely any time for knitting. Then there was one of the girls Brown, Mrs. Tait, who was exa
- 91 We don't give them to the knitters here; we give them to a person in the country, who gets them knitted for us. We pay 14s. for the knitting of them to that person in the country.3108. Is there any particular reason for employing a party in the count
- 92 3156. You think there is not so much difference in the cost to you, in the case of shawls, as in the case of veils?-No; because we don't get job shawls, and we don't require to guard against that.3157. Are there no job shawls at all?-It is extre
- 93 R. L.,'-just the sum and the initials, and they go to the other shop, where it is settled at once.3204. That is in cases of purchase, and has nothing to do with your knitters?-Nothing; unless in the case of the dresser, who has to bring all the dress
- 94 3246. Are you sometimes concerned in the purchase of hosiery goods?-No; I never purchase hosiery.3247. You only sell in the shop?-Yes.3248. Is it the case that the lines which are given out in your father's shop are generally brought back by the same
- 95 3295. When a shawl is brought to the shop and paid for in goods, is it ticketed for the south market?-Yes; the fine shawls are ticketed.3296. Wrap or winter shawls, 8s. 6d.: would these be ticketed?- No.3297. Why?-Because my father knows the prices so wel
- 96 3343. Do you issue the lines which are given out in the shop?-I very often issue lines. I perhaps issue more of them than any one else.3344. Do you also serve customers who have lines?-Yes.3345. Is it consistent with your knowledge, that the lines are gen
- 97 3392. Does Mr. Smith make frequent supplies to Mr. Sinclair's work-people?-No; it has not been done very frequently.3393. To what cla.s.s of work-people are these supplies made?- Chiefly to the party who has been already examined, Mary Ann Sinclair,
- 98 3437. Do you take any lodgers?-I don't take any now. I am in the Widows' Asylum; but before I went there, I took one or two.3438. Did these lodgers help you in your living?-Yes, a little.3439. Then you would get money in that way with which to p
- 99 3481. Are there other merchants in Unst besides Mr. Jamieson who buy hosiery?-Yes.3482. Who are they?-Mr. Alexander Sandison, at Uyea Sound.3483. Where is Mr. Jamieson's place?-At Westing.3484. How did you happen to have wool of your own to knit with
- 100 3526. You said the prices differed at certain shops in town: would you give me an instance of that besides what you have mentioned?Suppose, for instance, that cotton is charged at 6d. a yard, is not that the common price for cotton that is given for hosie