Second Shetland Truck System Report Part 404

SINCLAIR, Robert (a.n.a.lysis 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; princ.i.p.ally buys hosiery, but sometimes gives wool out to be knitted, 2371; pays generally in goods, but gives cash, 2373; more cash given lately, 2376; pa.s.s-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 pa.s.s-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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 fis.h.i.+ng: 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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 20), fisherman at Burra, 976; and tenant, 977; engaged in home fis.h.i.+ng, 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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 (a.n.a.lysis 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.

SOAP, 12,826, 13,233, 15,820, 16,875.

SPENCE, John (a.n.a.lysis 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 fis.h.i.+ng, 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 compet.i.tion between merchants, 10,567; as the country is too poor for compet.i.tion, 10,580.

STEWART, William (a.n.a.lysis 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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 fis.h.i.+ng, 16,764; but in bad weather are more difficult to manage, 16,768.

SUTHERLAND, Rev. James R. (a.n.a.lysis 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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 363), agent in Lerwick for whaling vessels, 14,509; settles with men at s.h.i.+pping 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 (a.n.a.lysis of her evidence, p. 7), knits for dealer, 335; uses his wool, 338; has pa.s.s-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 fis.h.i.+ng, 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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 pa.s.s-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 fis.h.i.+ng an advantage to men, 6227; meal, 6235.

THOMPSON, Laurence (a.n.a.lysis 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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 fis.h.i.+ng 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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 pa.s.s-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 fis.h.i.+ng into his own hands, and fears oppression in that case, 528.

TULLOCH, Andrew (a.n.a.lysis 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 (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 277), shopkeeper at Scalloway to Hay & Co.; they have a shop, 11,309; in winter fis.h.i.+ng 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; b.u.t.ter and eggs paid for in goods, 11,435; ready-money payments would facilitate business, 11,455.

TULLOCH, James (a.n.a.lysis 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 princ.i.p.ally in goods, seldom gives cash, 2771; knitters have no pa.s.s-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 (a.n.a.lysis 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 pa.s.s-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 (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 321), [Page 455]

fish-curer and merchant at Lebidden, 12,946; employs a number of crews in summer fis.h.i.+ng, 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 (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 359), merchant and s.h.i.+pping 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 fis.h.i.+ng 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.

t.w.a.tT, John (a.n.a.lysis 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.