'… There are somethings which you have got which are not put in here?-Yes; I have gone to the shop when I did not have my book, and I have got what I asked.' '6086. What goods you got in that way when you did not have your pass-book were all put down in Mr. Adie's book, and you remembered about them when you came to settle?-Sometimes, and sometimes not.' '6087. If you did not remember them, did you trust to the honesty of the shopkeepers?-Yes.' '6088. Is your account read over to you at settling time?-Yes, if I ask it to be done.' '6089. Do you generally ask it?-Sometimes I do not, if I am in a hurry to get home.' '6090. Then you have perfect confidence in their honesty?-I always think it would do more harm to them than to me if they were not honest ….' '6119. Do you get your meal at Voe?-Yes; most that we use comes from there.' '6120. I see it is not entered in your pass-book?-No; because the meal has generally been sent in my absence, and I carry the book about with me.' '6121. How is it sent?-I have got some of it sent from Aberdeen to Ollaberry direct.' '6122. How much of it was there of it at a time?-I don't remember ….' '6127. What did you pay for that meal?-I cannot say.' '6128. Is it settled for yet?-My account is squared up.' '6130. Do you know what you paid for it before?-I don't remember.' '6131. When was your account squared up?-Fourteen days ago.' '6132. It was not squared up in your pass-book then?- No, I had it with me; but I wanted to get home soon, and I did not ask Mr. Adie to look over the pass-book.' '6133. You saw there was a balance against you then?-Yes.' '6134. Did you not ask the price of the meal you had got?-No.' '6135. Did you not hear it mentioned?-No.'
[J. Hay, 5370; L. Mail, 690; J. Leask, 1348; G. Colvin, 1340; W. Irvine, 3668, 3778; W. Goudie, 4333; G. Goudie, 5402; P.M. Sandison, 5169; G. Blance, 5574; P. Peterson, 6790; T. Robertson, 8619; G. Garriock, 8828; J.L. Pole, 9359; J. Laurenson, 9827; G. Tulloch, 11,441; L.F.U. Garriock, 12,295; G. Irvine, 13,176, 13,267; W. Robertson, 13,791; R. Simpson, 13,990; Wm. Blance, 6085, 6119.]
The effect of the prevailing indebtedness plainly is to make the men careless about prices:
'8698. What is the price of meal at Mossbank just now?-I cannot say rightly.' '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 it, whatever it is, because we have no money to purchase it with elsewhere.' '8702. Whose fault is that?-I don't know.' '8703. Is it the merchant's fault?-I cannot say that it is.' [C. Nicholson, 8698.]
It was for the purpose of ascertaining the area and degree of debt, as well as the degree to which truck prevails in the various districts of Shetland, that a series of questions was sent, some time after the inquiry had been opened, to most of the fish-merchants in Shetland. The answers to these questions must have cost in the larger establishments a good deal of time and trouble, which I am bound to say was in most cases ungrudgingly bestowed. The returns for the home fishing of 1867 (Table I.) are furnished by merchants, who, according to the returns made to the Fishery Board, produced more than four-fifths of the whole cure from that fishery in that year. They show that out of 1913 fishermen in their employment, 596 were indebted at the settlement of 1866, and 1832 at that of 1867, showing an average debt of £6, 11s. per man in 1866, and £6, 13s. 8d. per man in 1867. In the same year the total sum due to their fishermen by the eighteen curers making returns was £19,362, 17s. 23/4d., and the total amount received by the men from the curers was £21,456, 5s. 10d., which resulted, according to the 10th column, in an increase of the debt by £1,631, 9s. 8d. The goods supplied in account by these curers to fishermen in 1867 amounted to £10,860, 1s. 41/2d., rather more than a fourth being charged to the crews for fishing expenses. Thus rather more than one half of the total payments were made in goods.
The returns for 1871 (Table II.) were made by the same merchants, with the exception of two who had not settled for that year, and represent, according to the Fishery Board returns, nearly three fourths of the total cure of the year. Out of 1615 fishermen, 644 were indebted in a total amount of £5,026, 19s. 13/4d., or an average sum per man of £7, 13s. 33/4d. at the settlement of 1870; and 614 were indebted in a total amount of £4,437, 1s. 21/2d., or an average sum per man of £7, 4s. 61/4d. at the settlement of 1871. The total amount due to their fishermen by these fifteen curers was £20,759, 17s, 33/4d., and the total amount which the men got from them was £20,579, 14s. 13/4d. The debt was reduced by £589, 18s. 111/4d. The goods supplied in account were £8,927, 2s. 10d., £2,574, 12s. 51/2d. being for fishing expenses. Thus, in this prosperous year, considerably less than a half of the whole earnings of the fishermen were received in goods. In 1867 about three fourths, in 1871 about a half, of the cash paid was paid before settlement.
Table III., for the Faroe fishing of 1867, applies to 509 men out of 699 who were engaged in that fishery in smacks belonging to Shetland curers. The average debt of 219 debtors in 1866 was £4, 13s. 2d., and of 125 debtors in 1867, £4, 11s. 31/2d. The total amount credited to the men was £6,764, 16s. 6d., and £6,723, 18s. 31/2d. was paid to them, of which £3,120, 14s. 9d., or less than half, was paid in goods.
In 1871 (Table IV.) the returns apply to 605 men out of 816 engaged in Shetland smacks in that year. Of these, 53 debtors in 1870 owed on the average £3, 8s. 93/4d each, and in 1871, 240 debtors owed £4, 6s. 91/4d. each. They had got altogether £8,177, 2s. 1d., or about £770 more than was due to them; and of that sum, £4, 146, 16s. 2d., or one half, was paid in truck.
Tables V. and VI. are Tables I. and II. in a different form, showing
more clearly the total debits and credits of the men. They also
show how accurately, upon the whole, the returns have been made
up. Certain discrepancies are shown by the figures in the column
entitled 'Amount indebted in excess of statement.' These may be
accounted for in various ways;-where the discrepancy is small,
by trivial errors in making the returns; where it is greater, by the
omission from the returns of transactions of a less usual character,
These Tables show that from one third to one half of the fishermen are in debt to the curers each year at the time of settlement, after their fishing has been credited to them. It is not less true, as shown by the evidence, that during the rest of the year nearly the whole of them are in debt to the curers, because the goods and advances are debited to them as they get them, while the credit for fish only comes at the end of the year.
TABLE I.—HOME FISHING—SEASON 1867. [Page 25]
1. No. of Fishermen employed
2. Amount of Goods debited to Fishermen
3. Cash advanced before Settlement
5. Gross Sum credited to Men for Fish
6. Gross Sum credited to them for Stock, etc.
7. Cash due to Fishermen at Settlement
8. Cash paid to them at Settlement.
9.1. No. of Fishermen indebted at Settlement of 1866
9.2. Total Debts.
10.1 No. of Fishermen indebted at Settlement of 1866
10.2. Total Debts.
1 2 2 2 3 3 3A 191 £1114 17 11 £625 1 0*B 79 576 18 9 79 19 11C 48 349 18 81/4 118 12 31/2D 46 164 8 2 54 10 7*E 244 765 10 1 280 13 6*F, 180 1006 5 1 537 6 5G, 23 95 0 0 35 18 0*H, 95 248 2 1 153 11 8J, 52 428 14 111/2 120 0 91/2K, 28 124 15 10 15 0 0*L, 30 76 16 51/4 0 0 0*M, 122 881 0 31/2 190 5 6*N 189 480 7 11 617 1 5O, 58 288 12 9 172 3 4*P, 209 788 16 21/2 946 9 1‡†Q, 31 149 5 91/2 79 15 6R, 70 354 5 1 128 18 9†S, 122 160 0 8 221 2 5†T, 96 563 8 7 153 6 71913 £8617 5 31/2 £4529 16 9
4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6A £367 1 5 £2594 2 81/2 £738 6 101/2*B 88 10 9 769 18 01/2 31 0 93/4C 51 15 0 338 14 1/4 92 4 9D 69 16 9 292 8 1 43 4 4*e 465 10 0 2233 10 10 0 0 0*F, 126 0 0 863 10 10 213 13 0G, 0 0 0§ 208 10 2 0 0 0*H, 39 8 10 866 0 2 304 14 0J, 162 13 3 415 8 101/2 114 12 81/2K, 19 0 0 286 6 0 0 0 0*L, 45 0 0 164 1 8 0 0 0*M, 292 3 6 878 17 1 366 11 61/2*N 331 1 4 1763 12 61/2 100 13 10O, 0 0 0 650 4 1 0 0 0*P, 0 0 0§ 2063 18 01/2 284 0 01/2†Q, 12 9 7 174 5 11 50 4 91/2R, 55 14 6 520 7 0 32 7 10†S, 56 13 5 1054 6 111/2 0 0 0†T, 59 17 9 861 11 8 91 8 0£2242 16 1 £16,999 14 81/4 £2463 2 61/4
7 7 7 8 8 8 9.1A £1077 1 11 £1444 7 1 114*B 163 5 03/4 248 7 31/4 31C 32 4 21/2 30 10 21/2 17D 85 3 31/2 85 3 31/2 11*e 834 6 3 834 6 3 25*F, 0 0 0 0 0 0±¶ 118G, 106 17 0 106 17 0 6*H, 342 7 1 342 7 1 27J, 34 11 41/2 28 10 0 29K, 133 9 91/2 159 17 10 6*L, 87 5 23/4 87 5 23/4 6*M, 265 18 01/2 294 17 11/2 67*N 484 4 11/2 479 8 1 22O, 216 14 81/2 216 14 81/2 22*P, 693 0 5 693 0 5 15†Q, 21 17 9 21 17 9 6R, 125 3 8 125 3 8 32†S, 616 5 61/2 616 5 61/2 7†T, 256 9 2 251 9 2 35£5576 4 71/2 £6066 7 81/2 596
9.2 9.2 9.2 10.1 10.2 10.2 10.2A £1160 8 8 143 £1379 5 7*B 101 9 1/4 50 294 8 93/4C 27 17 41/2 35 150 17 101/2D 29 1 0 18 67 7 41/2*e 59 11 9 72 172 1 9*F, 783 0 0 141 948 18 3G, 45 19 4 9 87 19 7*H, 159 2 2 21 137 11 11J, 220 11 7 38 401 12 31/2K, 13 0 41/2 8 26 8 01/2*L, 25 7 51/4 7 26 14 63/4*M, 538 3 31/2 76 737 0 7*N 74 18 0 27 122 15 81/2O, 195 11 11 19 197 16 7*P, 70 7 8 41 150 16 31/2†Q, 9 16 4 16 48 14 31/2R, 101 17 5 50 213 4 7†S, 20 16 5 9 24 10 2†T, 292 2 7 52 372 7 9£3929 2 4 832 £5560 12 0
*See Note (*) on table II., Home Fishing, 1871.† This includes the Herring fishing.‡ Includes $540, 9s. of Rents paid.§ Included in No. 2.± Although a few would have cash to get, yet the supplies to thewhole exceeded their earnings by about £536, 7s. 8d.
TABLE II.—HOME FISHING—SEASON 1871. [Page 26]
1. No. of Fishermen employed
2. Amount of Goods debited to Fishermen.
3. Cash advanced before Settlement.
4. Fishing Expenses charged to the Men.
5. Gross Sum credited to them for Fish.
6. Gross Sum credited to them for Stock, etc.
7. Cash due to them at Settlement.
8. Cash paid to them at Settlement
9.1 No. of Fishermen indebted at Settlement of 1870
9.2 Total Debts
10.1. No. of Fishermen indebted at Settlement of 1871
10.2. Total Debts
1 2 2 2 3 3 3A 182 £911 19 5 £809 16 8*B 79 406 8 1/4 137 15 41/2*C 46 308 16 1 103 19 61/2D 100 411 15 8 249 18 0*E 260 634 0 6 251 0 4*F, 144 735 2 2 640 3 1G, 23 60 0 0 40 17 0*H, 103 260 12 4 182 16 1J, 60 279 11 61/2 110 17 101/2K, 12 65 11 111/2 23 0 0Q 142 479 17 4 371 11 5*M, 147 1136 17 61/2 276 8 0O, 36 108 6 5 55 0 6*N 185 345 6 91/2 560 11 01/2S 66 107 14 8 110 14 11/2*L 30 100 9 111615 £6352 10 41/4 £3924 9 01/2
*†U, 150 1125 3 1 £658 5 21/2*†T, 126 1042 10 11 356 2 6*†P, 281 788 1 21/2 1048 19 111/22202 £9308 5 63/4 £5987 16 81/2
4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6A £274 10 1 £3101 14 3 £859 6 2*B 73 18 0 1090 6 1 14 10 91/2*C 49 10 6 578 0 21/2 115 2 83/4D 178 9 21/2 999 3 9 33 3 61/2*E 540 10 11 3436 16 7*F, 99 0 0 1330 1 7 335 12 0G, ‡ 310 4 0*H, 163 18 9 1151 11 4 197 3 11J, 161 14 111/2 623 4 8 60 8 6K, 6 0 0 102 19 6Q 123 8 5 1124 10 5 35 11 6*M, 459 12 31/2 1800 7 21/2 385 19 11/2O, 337 15 3*N 324 17 41/2 1780 3 4 79 9 11S 73 1 111/2 625 6 3*L 46 0 0 251 4 81/2£2574 12 51/2 £18,643 9 11/2 £2116 8 21/4
*†U, £50 4 8 £1651 11 11/2 £417 16 6*†T, 67 4 0 1880 10 11 183 6 5*†P, 2729 8 71/2 412 1 21/2£2692 1 11/2 £24,904 19 91/2 £3129 12 33/4
7 7 7 8 8 8 9.1A £1555 13 6 £1842 8 4 105*B 463 1 11/2 519 16 61/2 27*C 160 9 31/2 176 0 8 30D 252 16 6 252 16 6 34*E 1983 8 2 1983 8 2 17*F, 235 8 4 235 8 4 136G, 174 8 8 174 8 8 10*H, 376 14 8 376 14 8 25J, 90 5 6 74 5 21/2 44K, 15 16 11/2 5Q 299 9 10 299 9 10 46*M, 890 7 51/2 501 16 41/2 82O, 219 13 7 219 13 7 13*N 586 13 111/2 571 9 111/2 31S 333 15 41/2 333 15 41/2 32*L 150 14 91/4 150 14 91/4 7£7773 0 83/4 £7728 3 11/4 644
*†U, £276 6 4 £245 6 4*†T, 710 16 8 874 16 6 82*†P, 1305 10 71/2 1305 10 71/2 48£10,065 14 41/4 £10,153 16 63/4 774
9.2 9.2 9.2 10.1 10.2 10.2 10.2A £961 16 2 133 £839 10 0*B 120 1 23/4 35 164 15 9*C 141 19 01/4 22 94 16 93/4D 92 12 101/2 48 153 4 111/2*E 36 17 2 9 9 0 6*F, 1433 12 11 99 1215 4 4G, 56 13 0 5 23 10 0*H, 244 0 1 25 232 18 8J, 524 3 101/2 37 452 9 11K, 18 1 7 6 19 10 2Q 146 4 11 68 260 10 0*M, 858 7 51/2 65 657 17 21/2O, 163 15 10 11 140 6 0*N 125 9 3 23 88 3 2S 52 11 101/2 21 48 6 11/2*L 50 11 103/4 7 36 17 71/4£5026 19 13/4 614 £4437 1 21/2
*†U, £561 16 4 606 18 11/2*†T, 433 18 9 68 710 5 10*†P, 274 0 10 44 275 2 91/2£6296 15 03/4 726 £6037 7 111/2
*In the Returns made by those marked (*), rents payable by men tothem are included in the cash payments, except those of H.† The Returns by U, T., and P are for the year 1870.‡ This in included in No. 2.
TABLE III.—FAROE FISHING—SEASON 1867. [Page 27]
1. No. of Fishermen employed
2. Amount of Goods debited to Fishermen.
3. Cash advanced before Settlement.
4. Fishing Expenses charged to the Men.
5. Gross Sum credited to Men for Fish.
6. Gross Sum credited to them for Stock, etc.
7. Cash due to Fishermen at Settlement.
8. Cash paid to them at Settlement.
9.1. No. of Fishermen indebted at Settlement of 1866.
9.2. Total Debts
10.1. No. of Fishermen indebted at Settlement of 1867.
10.2. Total Debts1 2 2 2 3 3 3A, 47 £234 15 5.5 £141 6 0B, 71 323 3 6.5 221 9 61/2C, 41 221 11 0 196 18 11D, 91 839 15 9.5 451 13 9E, 11 20 10 9.5 13 15 0F, 148 481 18 1.5 432 6 12G, 31 122 0 3 80 8 2H, 69 362 3 4 229 19 2509 £2605 18 31/2 £1767 17 6†J 28 163 10 11 51 7 2
4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6A, £46 17 9 £656 5 9 £0 0 0B, 32 16 6.5 901 14 91/2 0 0 0C, 42 5 7 457 16 0 98 11 8D, 0 0 0* 1696 1 1 0 0 0E, 16 12 7 98 5 91/2 2 18 9F, 331 14 6 1667 8 4 44 12 7G, 14 13 6 312 5 11 0 0 0H, 29 16 0 828 15 10 0 0 0£514 16 51/2 £6618 13 6 £146 3 0†J £14 14 11 171 0 0 42 6 9
7 7 7 8 8 8 9.1A, £183 15 01/2 £183 15 01/2 20B, 294 11 11/2 294 11 11/2 31C, 88 7 6 89 7 6 17D, 478 4 11 478 4 11 55E, 50 19 21/2 50 19 21/2 1F, 443 11 9 373 9 01/2 34G, 99 8 31/2 99 8 31/2 3H, 265 10 11 265 10 11 58£1904 8 9 £1835 6 01/2 219†J 0 19 1 0 19 1 25
9.2 9.2 9.2 10.1 10.2 10.2 10.2A, £81 5 81/2 8 £31 14 2B, 164 1 101/2 23 134 7 10C, 60 12 11 15 54 8 3D, 307 0 4 22 141 16 01/2E, 0 16 2 1 1 9 6F, 164 0 2 26 133 13 91/2G, 10 7 7 9 14 6 10H, 232 1 4 21 58 13 7£1020 6 1 125 £570 10 0†J 86 5 5 28 137 7 41/2
*Under this head no fishing expenses were charged against the men's accounts. The only fishing expenses were bait, and curing of fish, which were deducted from the gross amount before division, as agreed upon. † This Return in for 1866. In 1866 there was a remarkably 'lean' Fishing.
TABLE IV.—FAROE FISHING—SEASON 1871. [Page 28]
1. No. of Fishermen employed 2. Amount of Goods debited to Fishermen. 3. Cash advanced before Settlement. 4. Fishing Expenses charged to the Men. 5. Gross Sum credited to Men for Fish. 6. Gross Sum credited to them for Stock, etc. 7. Cash paid to them at Settlement. 8. Cash paid to them at Settlement. 9.1. Total Debts 9.2. No. of Fishermen indebted at Settlement of 1870. 10.1. Total Debts 10.2. No. of Fishermen indebted at Settlement of 1871.
1 2 2 2 3 3 3F, 139 £563 5 6 £618 6 11A, 51 205 0 81/2 123 12 6C, 57 358 2 2 284 11 2D, 85 774 13 2 467 1 9H, 125 775 14 11 216 5 1J, 13 85 10 3 24 19 6E, 23 104 18 91/2 94 14 10G, 47 266 18 1 111 17 10†B, 65 249 19 3 203 18 21/2605 £3384 2 10 £2145 7 91/2
4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6F, £556 0 4 £2093 2 9 £32 6 0A, 26 4 31/2 331 5 1 0 0 0C, 51 3 6 150 4 6 647 0 2D, 0 0 0 1810 12 7 0 0 0H, 45 19 1 942 0 0 0 0 0J, 9 12 0 39 17 1 4 9 71/2E, 14 2 1 204 6 31/4 33 0 3G, 28 18 10 545 10 3 0 0 0†B, 30 13 21/2 572 6 4 … … …£762 13 4 £6689 4 101/4 £716 16 1/2
7 7 7 8 8 8 9.1F, £473 16 2 £375 12 3 21A, 69 19 6 69 19 6 2C, 168 14 21/2 172 10 61/2 13D, 589 9 10 589 9 10 7H, 253 1 2 253 1 2 4J, 0 0 0 0 0 0 3E, 49 1 10 48 17 111/2 2G, 166 19 41/2 165 5 9 0†B, 210 1 11/2 210 1 11/2 1£1981 3 21/2 £1984 18 11/2 53
9.2 9.2 9.2 10.1 10.2 10.2 10.2F, £83 1 11 31 £174 19 9*A, 0 11 6 26 94 3 51/2C, 59 2 7 28 128 5 3D, 19 2 91/2 19 35 0 10H, 10 4 0 65 349 0 3J, 1 19 0 13 72 0 61/2E, 5 5 111/2 10 33 11 53/4G, 0 0 0 14 29 3 111/2†B, 2 18 6 34 125 3 111/2£182 6 3 240 £1041 9 53/4
* 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 clear. † Excluding the crew of one smack, the crew of which had not been settled with.
TABLE V.—HOME FISHING—SEASON 1867. [Page 29]
No. of Fishermen in Debt at Settlement of 1866, and Amount of Debts. 1.1. No. 1.2. Amount. 2. Fishing Expenses Charged to the Men. 3. Goods charged to the Men.
CASH. 4.1. Advanced to the Men before Settlement 4.2. Paid to them at Settlement.
5. Total Debits to Fishermen.
Gross Sums credited to the Men. 6.1. For Fish. 6.2. For Stock.
7. Total Credits to Fishermen.
No. of Fishermen in Debt at Settlement of 1867, and Amount Indebted. 8.1. No. 8.2. Amount. 8.3. Amount as per Statement. 8.4. Amount indebted in excess of Statement
9. No. of men engaged during the Year.
1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 2 2 2A, 114 £1160 8 8 £367 1 5B, 31 101 9 01/4 88 10 9C, 17 27 17 4.5 51 15 0D, 11 29 1 0 69 16 9E, 25 59 11 9 465 10 0F, 118 783 0 0 126 0 0G, 6 45 19 4H, 27 159 2 2 39 8 10I, 29 £220 11 7 162 13 3K, 6 £13 0 41/2 19 0 0L, 6 25 7 51/4 45 0 0M, 67 538 3 31/2 292 3 6N, 22 74 18 0 331 1 4O, 22 195 11 11P, 15 70 7 8Q, 6 9 16 4 12 9 7R, 32 101 17 5 55 14 6S, 7 20 16 5 56 13 5T, 35 292 2 7 59 17 9596 £3939 2 4 £2242 16 1
3 3 3 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.2 4.2 4.2A, £1114 17 11 625 1 0 1444 7 1B, 576 18 9 79 19 11 248 7 31/4C, 339 18 81/4 118 12 31/2 30 10 21/2D, 164 8 2 54 10 7 85 3 31/2E, 765 10 1 280 13 6 834 6 3F, 1006 5 1 537 6 5G, 95 0 0 35 18 8 106 17 0H, 248 2 1 153 11 8 342 7 1I, 428 14 111/2 120 0 91/2 28 10 0K, 124 15 10 15 0 0 159 17 10L, 76 16 51/4 87 5 23/4M, 881 0 31/2 190 5 6 294 17 11/2N, 480 7 11 617 1 5 479 8 1O, 288 12 9 172 3 4 216 14 81/2P, 788 16 21/2 946 9 1 693 0 5Q, 149 5 91/2 79 15 6 21 17 9R, 354 5 1 128 18 9 125 3 8S, 160 0 8 221 2 5 616 5 61/2T, 563 8 7 153 6 7 351 9 2£8617 5 31/2 £4529 16 9 £6066 7 81/2
5 5 5 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.2 6.2 6.2A, £4711 16 1 £2594 2 81/2 £738 6 101/2B, 1095 5 81/2 769 18 01/2 31 0 93/4C, 578 13 63/4 338 14 01/4 92 4 9D, 402 19 91/2 292 8 1 43 4 4E, 2405 11 7 2233 10 10F, 2452 11 6 863 10 10 213 13 0G, 283 14 4 208 10 2H, 942 11 10 866 0 2 304 14 0I, 960 10 7 415 8 101/2 114 12 81/2K, 331 14 01/2 286 6 0L, 234 9 11/4 164 1 8M, 2196 9 81/2 878 17 1 366 11 61/2N, 1982 16 9 1763 12 61/2 100 13 10O, 873 2 81/2 650 4 1P, 2498 13 41/2 2063 18 01/2 284 0 01/2Q, 273 4 111/2 174 5 11 50 4 91/2R, 765 19 5 520 7 0 32 7 10S, 1074 18 51/2 1054 6 111/2T, 1320 4 8 861 11 8 91 8 0£25385 8 2 £16999 14 81/4 £2463 2 61/4
7 7 7 8.1 8.2 8.2 8.2A, £3332 9 7 143 £1379 6 6B, 800 18 101/4 50 294 6 101/4C, 430 18 91/4 35 147 14 91/2D, 335 12 5 18 67 7 41/2E, 2233 10 10 72 172 0 0F, 1077 3 10 141 1375 7 8G, 208 10 2 9 75 4 2H, 1170 14 2 21 <228 2 4>I, 530 1 7 38 430 9 0K, 286 6 0 8 45 8 01/2L, 164 1 8 7 70 7 51/4M, 1245 8 71/2 76 951 1 1N, 1864 6 41/2 27 118 10 41/2O, 650 4 1 19 222 18 71/2P, 2347 18 1 41 150 15 31/2Q, 224 10 81/2 16 48 14 3R, 552 14 10 50 213 4 7S, 1054 6 111/2 9 20 11 6T, 952 19 8 52 367 5 0£19462 18 21/2 832 £5922 10 111/2
8.3 8.3 8.3 8.4 8.4 8.4 9A, £1379 5 7 £0 0 11 191B, 294 8 93/4 <0 1 111/2> 79C, 150 17 101/2 <3 3 1> 48D, 67 7 41/2 46E, 172 1 9 <0 1 0> 244F, 948 18 3 426 9 5 180G, 87 19 7 <12 15 5> 23H, 137 11 11 <365 14 3> 95I, 401 12 31/2 28 16 81/2 52K, 26 8 01/2 19 0 0 28L, 26 14 63/4 43 12 101/2 30M, 737 0 7 214 0 6 122N, 122 15 81/2 <4 5 4> 189O, 197 16 7 25 2 01/2 58P, 150 16 31/2 <0 1 0> 209Q, 48 14 31/2 <0 0 01/2> 31R, 213 4 7 70S, 24 10 2 <3 18 8> 122T, 372 7 9 <5 2 9> 96£5560 12 0 361 18 111/2 1913
*Where the amount is less than the Statement, the figures are noted in italics, and effect is given to these sums in the addition.
TABLE VI.—HOME FISHING—SEASON 1871. [Page 30]
No. of Fishermen in Debt at Settlement of 1870, and Amount ofDebts.1.1. No.1.2. Amount.
2. Fishing Expenses Charged to the Men.
3. Goods charged to the Men.
CASH. 4.1. Advanced to the Men before Settlement. 4.2. Paid to them at Settlement.
5. Total Debits to Fishermen.
Gross Sums credited to the Men. 6.1. For Fish. 6.2. For Stock.
7. Total Credits to Fishermen.
No. of Fishermen in Debt at Settlement of 1871, and Amount Indebted. 8.1. No. 8.2. Amount to Balance. 8.3. Amount as per Statement. 8.4. Amount indebted in excess of Statement
9. No. of men engaged during the Year.
1.1 1.2 1.2 1.2 2 2 2A, 105 £961 16 2 £274 10 1B, 27 120 1 23/4 73 18 0C, 30 141 19 01/4 49 10 6D, 34 92 12 101/2 178 9 21/2E, 17 36 17 2 540 10 11F, 136 1433 12 11 99 0 0G, 10 56 13 0H, 25 244 0 1 163 18 9I, 44 524 3 101/2 161 14 12K, 5 18 1 7 6 0 0R, 46 146 4 11 123 8 5M, 82 858 7 51/2 459 12 31/2O, 13 163 15 10N, 31 125 9 3 324 17 41/2S, 32 52 11 101/2 73 1 12L, 7 50 11 103/4 46 0 0644 £5026 19 13/4 £2574 12 51/2
U, £561 16 4 £50 4 8T, 82 433 18 9 67 4 0P, 48 274 0 10774 £6296 15 03/4 £2692 1 11/2
3 3 3 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.2 4.2 4.2A, £911 19 5 £809 16 8 £1842 8 4B, 406 8 01/4 137 15 41/2 519 16 61/2C, 308 16 1 103 19 61/2 176 0 8D, 411 15 8 249 18 0 252 16 6E, 634 0 6 251 0 4 1983 8 2F, 735 2 2 640 3 1 235 8 4G, 60 0 0 40 17 0 174 8 8H, 260 12 4 182 16 1 376 14 8I, 279 11 61/2 110 17 101/2 74 5 21/2K, 65 11 111/2 23 0 0 15 16 11/2R, 479 17 4 371 11 5 299 9 10M, 1136 17 61/2 276 8 0 501 16 41/2O, 108 6 5 55 0 6 219 13 7N, 345 6 91/2 560 11 01/2 571 9 111/2S, 107 14 8 110 14 11/2 333 15 41/2L, 100 9 11 150 14 91/4£6352 10 41/4 £3924 9 01/2 £7728 3 11/4
U, £1125 3 1 £658 5 21/2 £245 6 4T, 1042 10 11 356 2 6 874 16 6P, 788 1 21/2 1048 19 111/2 1305 10 71/2£9308 5 63/4 £5987 16 81/2 £10153 16 63/4
5 5 5 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.2 6.2 6.2A, £4800 10 8 £3101 14 3 £859 6 2B, 1257 19 2 £1090 6 1 14 10 91/2C, £780 5 93/4 578 0 21/2 115 2 83/4D, 1185 12 3 999 3 9 33 3 61/2E, 3445 17 1 3436 16 7F, 3143 6 6 1330 1 7 335 12 0G, 331 18 8 310 4 0H, 1228 1 11 1151 11 4 197 3 11I, 1150 13 51/2 623 4 8 60 8 6K, 128 9 8 102 19 6R, 1420 11 11 1124 10 5 35 11 6M, 3233 1 8 1800 7 21/2 385 19 11/2O, 546 16 4 337 15 3N, 1927 14 5 1780 3 4 79 9 11S, 677 18 0 625 6 3L, 347 16 7 251 4 81/2£25606 14 13/4 £18643 9 11/2 £2116 8 21/4
U, £2640 15 71/2 £1651 11 11/2 £417 16 6T, 2774 12 8 1880 10 11 183 6 5P, 3416 12 71/2 2729 8 71/2 412 1 21/2£34438 15 01/4 £24904 19 91/2 £3129 12 33/4
7 7 7 8.1 8.2 8.2 8.2A, £3961 0 5 133 £839 10 3B, 1104 16 101/2 £35 153 2 £4C, 693 2 111/4 22 87 2 101/2D, 1032 7 31/2 48 153 4 111/2E, 3436 16 7 9 9 0 6F, 1665 13 7 99 1477 12 11G, 310 4 0 5 21 14 8H, 1348 15 3 25 <120 13 4>I, 683 13 2 37 467 0 31/2K, 102 19 6 6 25 10 2R, 1160 1 11 68 260 10 0M, 2186 6 4 65 1046 15 4O, 337 15 3 11 209 1 1N, 1859 13 3 23 68 1 2S, 625 6 3 21 52 11 9L, 251 4 81/2 17 96 11 101/2£20759 17 33/4 624 £4846 16 91/2
U, £2069 7 71/2 £571 8 0T, 2063 17 4 68 710 15 4P, 3141 9 10 44 275 2 91/2£28034 12 11/4 736 £6404 2 11
8.3 8.3 8.3 8.4 8.4 8.4 9A, £839 10 0 £0 0 3 217B, 164 15 £9 <11 13 51/2> 79C, 94 16 93/4 <7 13 111/4> 46D, 153 4 111/2 100E, 9 0 6 260F, 1215 4 4 262 8 7 144G, 23 10 0 <1 15 4> 23H, 232 18 8 <353 12 0> 103I, 452 9 11 14 10 41/2 60K, 19 10 2 6 0 0 12R, 260 10 0 142M, 657 17 21/2 388 18 11/2 147O, 140 6 0 68 15 1 36N, 88 3 2 <20 2 0> 185S, 48 6 11/2 4 5 71/2 66L, 36 17 71/4 59 14 31/4 30£4437 1 21/2 £409 15 £7 1650
U, £606 18 11/2 <35 10 11/2> 150T, 710 5 10 0 9 6 126P, 275 2 91/2 281£6029 7 111/2 £374 14 111/2 2207
*Where the amount is less than the Statement, the figures are noted in italics, and effect is given to these sums in the addition. _______________________________
[Page 31] PRICES AT THE SHOPS OF FISH-CURERS.
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, competition, and the greater facility of communication with other places, have kept the prices of the necessaries of life at a moderate figure.
No complaints were made as to prices there, and it was thought unnecessary to make a minute investigation. Evidence was taken, however, for the purpose of comparing the prices of meal and flour as sold in Lerwick with those charged at the fish-curers' shops in the country districts. It is a fact of some significance, that few persons above the condition of peasants purchase supplies for family use from the shops in Shetland. Provisions and groceries, as well as clothing are to a large extent imported by private individuals from Aberdeen, Leith, and Edinburgh. The Rev. Mr. Sutherland says that he gets his goods twice a year from the south, and does not deal with any local shop, unless he happens to be out of a particular article; and that, so far as he knows, it is common for clergymen and others in the same position to get their supplies from the south:
'7570. Why is that done?-I cannot afford to buy articles here; they are too dear for me. My stipend would not afford to pay for them.' '7571. Do you know if the same reason operates in the case of your fellow clergymen?-I don't know; but they have often spoken about it. In the first place, I hold the goods to be, as might be expected, inferior in quality to the goods I would like. I don't blame the merchants for not having goods of better quality, because their customers perhaps would not be in the way of buying them; but I could not afford to buy from the merchants here, in consequence of the tremendous percentage which they charge upon their goods.'
[C. Robertson, 15,017; J. Robertson, sen., 14,072.]
Statements to the same effect are made by the Rev. D. Miller, United Presbyterian minister at Mossbank, and the Rev. W. Smith, minister of Unst. [6001; 10,714.]
Many witnesses complained that prices are higher at the 'shops' than at Lerwick. Thus the leading witness from Dunrossness said that oatmeal at Mr. Bruce's shop at Grutness was 4s. a boll (140 lbs.), or 8s. per sack or quarter, above its price in Lerwick. [L. Mail, 568.]
The prices charged here are much too high; and this arises not merely from the want of the check of competition, as regards the men thirled to the shop by want of money to deal elsewhere, but also from the very peculiar way in which the prices are fixed. This may possibly be explained by the fact that neither Mr. Bruce nor his shopkeeper have been properly trained to the business of the shop, which has been taken up as an appendage of the fish trade. Gilbert Irvine, the shopkeeper, was unable to give any very clear explanation of the way in which the price of meal at Grutness is fixed, and why the men never knew the price of it until the settlement. [G. Irvine, 13,173.] But Mr. Bruce says:
'13,306. In what way do you fix the average price of meal for the year?—We take what other people are charging in Lerwick and elsewhere; and after considering the quality of the meal, and our extra expense upon it, we charge what we think it can reasonably bring, without any regard to the cost price of it.' '13,307. Do you not take the cost price into consideration at all?- Of course it is an element, but not the principal element, in fixing the price.'
This loose method of proceeding may account for the complaints
of the price made by all the men, who were quite satisfied with the
quality. No man deals at the store at Grutness who can possibly
get money to buy his goods elsewhere, and Mr. Bruce himself
speaks of the shop as a necessity for the fishing, and not a source
of profit in itself. The price of meal was ascertained by William
Goudie to be at least 3s. per boll above, the price elsewhere.
There is also at Grutness an ambiguity about weight -pecks being
sold by 'lispund weight,'
[J. Bruce, jun., H. Mailand, 4858; W. Goudie, 4317; G. Irvine, 13,259; J. Brown, 5300; H. Gilbertson, 4551; C. Robertson, 15,040; J.Robertson, sen., 14,587; T. Aitken, 4833; G. Irvine, 13,224; J.Bruce, jun., 13, 319; G. Irvine, 13,291; R. Henderson, 12,877; R.Halcrow, 4663; C. Fleming, 17,042; G. Irvine, 13,200.]
The general import of the evidence as to Mr. Grierson's shop at Quendale is that the prices are not so high as at Grutness, but higher (2s. or 3s per boll for meal than those at Gavin Henderson's at Scousborough and even than those at Messrs. Hay & Co.'s at Dunrossness. Here the prices of fishing lines are-2 lb., 2s. 3d.; 21/2 lb., 2s. 6d; 13/4 lb., 2s.; 11/2 lb., 1s. 9d. At Gavin Henderson's, 2 lb., 2s.; 21/4lb., 2s. 3d.
[J. Flawes, 4978; C. Eunson, 5067; G. Goudie, 13,392; R.Henderson, 12,877.]
The difference between prices at Mossbank and Lerwick has been
not less than 4s. or 4s. 6d. per boll, although Mr. Pole (5962)
says that in general the difference is from 1s. 6d. to 2s. per boll.
The difference between Mossbank prices for meal and the shop of
Magnus Johnston at Tofts, a mile distant, is said by Johnston to be
a penny a peck, or 1s. 5d. per boll. At the shop of the same firm at
Greenbank, in North Yell, the price of meal was 5s. 8d. per
lispund (32 lbs.) in the summer of 1871-
[J. Henderson, 5514; J. Nicholson, 8738; M. Johnston, 7897; J.L.Pole, 9396, J. Nicholson, 8736.]
HAY & CO.'S SHOPS
From Burra, Whalsay, and the other establishments of Messrs. Hay & Co., no complaints as to prices were made. Some of their stations are so near Lerwick that they must sell as low as possible, in order to secure the custom of the men. It is said that at Fetlar, one of their most remote stations, the goods are as cheap and good as at Lerwick. The books kept at Fetlar show sales of meal in July last at 23s., in August at 22s. 8d., and in September at 21s.; while in these months the prices in Lerwick were-July, 21s. 6d.; August, 21s.; September, 21s. In Fetlar, Messrs. Hay & Co. have the only large shop. At North Roe (Hay & Co.), the most remote shop on the mainland, the price of meal per boll, at the beginning of the fishing season of 1871, was only 6d. or 1s. higher than at Lerwick at the same date, according as the purchase spoken to by a witness was made in April or May. It seems to be a fair conclusion from the evidence that this firm does not, as a rule, charge high prices. No complaint has been made with respect to quality.
[W. Irvine, 3715; Catherine Petrie, 1458; G. Gaunson, 8887; J. Garriock, 8766; A. Ratter, 7400; C. Robertson, 15,040; T. Aitken, 4836.]
The establishment of Mr. Adie at Voe (Olnafirth) is one of the largest in Shetland. No specimens were obtained from it for examination; but the oral evidence as to the provisions sold there may be briefly referred to. Mr. Adie himself admits that the cost of carriage necessarily enhances prices at Voe, and that meal is therefore generally 2s. per boll dearer than at Lerwick. A witness who lately went to live there, however, paid 1s. 5d. per peck for meal which he would have got in Lerwick for 1s. 2d., or five months ago for 1s. 3d. This is a difference not of 2s., but of 4s. per boll; and although the witness Gilbert Scollay impressed me unfavourably by the manner of his evidence, there is much to corroborate his statement with regard to his dealings with the shop at Voe. He says that -
'Ultimately I wrote to the meal dealers in the south, and I found that there was a difference of 10s. on the sack of meal; that, upon 12 sacks, would have been a saving of £6 alone.'
[T.M. Adie, 5699; R. Mouat, 4240; C. Robertson, 15,040.]
Of course 2s. 6d., or in winter, according to Mr. Adie, 5s. per sack, must be deducted from this difference for freight. Again, on April 21, 1868, meal being 26s. 6d. per boll see or 1s. 7d. per peck, was sold at Voe at 1s. 9d. per peck.
[See G. Scollay, 14,975; C. Robertson, 15,040.]
The worst accounts are given of the meal kept at the shop of Robert Mouat, Sandwick, formerly referred to. Henry Sinclair says that 'the greater part of it was fit for nothing but the pigs.' What he called his second flour, says another witness, 'was of such a quality that it could not be eaten by human beings;' but,' he adds, 'it had to be eaten for the support of life while it existed.'
[5330; M. Malcolmson, 3013, 3014; W. Manson, 3039; T. Williamson, 9470; J. Robertson, jun., 15,186.]
Gilbert Robertson, a boatskipper and an elder of the kirk, gets his supplies in Lerwick, because he found flour to be 2s. per sack, and meal 3s. or 4s. a sack, cheaper than Burravoe, a place to which there has for some years been steam communication from Lerwick twice a week.
[9320]
In Unst a witness got meal from Spence & Co., at the date of the sitting there, at 1s. 5d. per peck, or as nearly as possible 24s. 11/2d. per boll, allowing 1/2d. a peck for loss in weighing; the price in Lerwick being 19s. 6d. per boll, or 131/2d. a peck. During almost the whole of the previous year the same price was charged there, though it was sometimes 1s. 4d.; and 1s. 4d. was the price of the same meal at Isbister's adjacent shop. The books kept at Balta Sound show that meal was being sold at 5s. 8d. and 5s, 9d. per lispund, or above 24s. per boll, in October 1871, while the price in Lerwick in that month was 19s. 6d. per boll. An opinion is expressed by the registrar of the parish Unst, that the 2s. 6d. tea he gets in Lerwick is 'much about the same as the 3s. tea which he gets from Spence & Co. at Balta Sound. But a favourable report upon Spence & Co.'s 3s. tea sold to me is afterwards referred to.
[Janet Robertson, 9812; C, Robertson, 15,042; J. Laurenson, 9843,9905; W. G. Mouat, 10,254; C. Robertson, 15,040; P. Johnson,10,227.]SKERRIES
At Skerries, where Mr. Adie has the shop, and is tacksman of the islands, meal is said to be charged 7s. a sack higher than it is in Lerwick; and an instance is given in which 6s. a sack was paid for it, while it could have been had from any merchant in Lerwick for 50s. or 51s. In January of the present year the price was 1s, 4d. per peck, or 23s. per per boll, at Skerries, being 19s. 6d., or 1s. 11/2d. per peck, at Lerwick. A similar difference existed in spring 1871. All articles at Skerries are stated to be over-priced, such as soap, soda, and sugar, which can be got much cheaper even at Whalsay, where Hay & Co. have a shop. On soda the overcharge is said to be 50 per cent.
[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.]
Although Mr. Robertson carries on an extensive trade in meal at Lerwick, and there sells at town prices, his shopkeeper at Vidlin, in Lunnasting, charges about the ordinary prices of the country shops. A pass-book produced by a witness shows meal charged at 22s. 8d. and 22s. in September 1870, when the Lerwick price was 19s. The difference, however, does not appear to be so great here as at some other places. Thus in February 1870 meal was 1s. 11/2 d. per peck, being 1s. per peck at Lerwick. In June 1871 overhead flour was sold at Voe at 1s. 3d. per peck; the price at Lerwick being 16s. 6d. per boll, or 1s. per peck, or for the finer quality of overhead flour, about 1s. 11/2 d. per peck.
[L. Simpson, 13,884; G. Scollay, 15,013; C. Robertson, 15,032; G.Scollay, 15,010; 15,012; C. Robertson, 15,037, 15,043.]
Prices charged by some other merchants may be mentioned at random. Laurence Williamson, Mid Yell, sold meal in August 1871 at 3s. per 1/2 lispund, or about 25s. per boll, the Lerwick price being then 21s. At Ollaberry shop (Anderson & Co.) 21/4 lines are charged 2s. 3d. cash, and 2s. 6d. if marked down, while they are got by a witness direct from Glasgow 'for 1s. 11d., including freight and everything.' In 1871 men fishing for William Jack Williamson at Ulsta, South Yell, paid 1s. 3d. for flour, while there was as good at Messrs. Hay's at Feideland, a remote fishing station, for 1s. 1d. Paraffin oil in Unst was retailed in January at the rate of 2s. 6d. per gallon, being purchased at 1s. 5d.
[L. Williamson, 9068; A. Johnson, 14,933, G. Gilbertson, 9583.]
These are but a few instances of the statements of witnesses with regard to the prices and qualities of goods. They appear to show that the truck system of Shetland resembles the truck of the English and Scotch mining and manufacturing districts in enhancing the prices of goods to the purchasers. This is the natural result of a system in which the purchaser has no option as to the dealer to whom he goes for necessary supplies; but it must also be remembered that in retail trade in rural districts custom has a powerful effect in fixing prices, and that even if truck did not exist, prices in so remote a region would be somewhat above the level of Aberdeen or Wick.
I conclude this part of the subject by referring to the evidence of Mr. James Lewis, an extensive and experienced merchant in Edinburgh, as to the price and quality of certain samples of goods submitted to him. The goods were purchased at the shops of Messrs. Pole, Hoseason, & Co., Mossbank, by a person employed by me, and that of Mr. Morgan Laurenson, Lochend, Northmaven, by Charlotte Johnson, for her own use; and at Messrs. Spence & Co.'s shop at Uyea Sound, by myself.
[A.T. Jamieson, 7945; C. Johnson, 15,811.]
The four articles first spoken to by Mr. Lewis were got at
Mossbank. The meal was of very inferior quality, not saleable in
the Canongate of Edinburgh; and though bought at 1s. 5d. a peck =
£1, 4s. 6d. per boll, is valued at 20s. This corresponds exactly with
the Shetland evidence as to value. Tea bought at 2s. 10d. is valued
at 2s. 4d. as the retail price in Edinburgh, which gives 211/2 per
cent. to cover carriage, risk, and
[J. Lewis, 16,816.]
Tea bought at 2s. 8d. is valued at 2s. 6d. here; and Mr. Lewis thinks 2s. 10d. would be a fair value for it in Shetland, being a good tea, and carrying, according to the practice of the trade, a larger profit. Sugar bought at 5d. is valued at 41/2d.
Tea, for which the witness paid 4s. 4d., is valued at 3s., and though by far the best of the teas examined, was much over-priced. Loaf-sugar at 10d. should have cost only 6d., and would be too dear at 8d. even in Shetland. Flour bought at 2d. per lb. is not fit for use, and is not flour at all in the opinion of the reporter. Rice at 31/2d. per lb. is fairish; would sell at 21/2d. in Canongate, and might fairly be sold at 3d. in Shetland. Soap bought at 6d. per lb. was worth 4d., so far as Mr. Lewis could judge of it in a dry state.
Tobacco sold at Grutness at 4d. per oz., and another sample sold at Gavin Henderson's, Dunrossness, at 4d. per oz., are both valued at 4s. per lb., or 3d. per oz.
Throughout the islands the prices charged to the men in account are the same, with few exceptions, as those charged to the purchaser for cash. Mr. Adie gives a discount where the amount purchased is worth discounting, but he also usually gives a discount of 5 per cent. upon his men's accounts. In Unst a lower price seems to be charged where cash is paid.
[W. Irvine, 3625; A. Tulloch, 5446; J.L. Pole, 9440, 9448; W.Robertson, 11,111, 13,635; W.B.M. Harrison, 15,726;L.F.U. Garriock, 12,295; T.M. Adie, 5636; J. Harper, 10,393; T.Anderson, 10,507.]__________________________________
The fishermen hitherto spoken of are not strictly labourers receiving wages, but may be regarded as vendors of wet fish to the fish-merchant, or less properly as partners with him. But to persons employed in curing fish, wages are paid, and are often paid in goods to their full amount. In the payment of these persons, especially the women and boys, undisguised truck exists to an extent not exceeded in any of the trades in which the system has been carried to the highest perfection; but the important distinction is to be observed, that little or no compulsion or influence is required to make the work-people take the goods.
In some of the curing establishments at Lerwick the pays are as frequent as it is reasonably possible to make them. The people are paid every week; but in nine cases out of ten a large part of their weekly wages is anticipated in supplies at the employer's shop. This of course involves an amount of time and trouble, and a risk of bad debts, which no merchant would incur, except for a large profit, and which indeed led Messrs. Harrison & Sons to refuse altogether to give 'out-takes' to work-people of this class. The wages are, however, paid at Lerwick, and some of the people spend their money at the shops of the firm, which adjoin the pay-office. At Scalloway, where Messrs. Garriock & Co. have no shop, they employ persons at daily wages, which are paid weekly, or within the fortnight. But the habit of running accounts is so inveterate in Shetlanders that 'often what they have to get on the Saturday night is forestalled in the shops.' In contracts for curing, which are sometimes made, Messrs. Garriock & Co. have no dealings with the work-people employed by the contractors, but make such advances as are necessary to them in money. It is not always so where curing is ostensibly done by contract. Thus, in Unst, many of the work-people employed by a contractor at Westing have accounts in the shop-books of Spence & Co. at Uyea Sound; settlements being effected, and sometimes advances made, by the merchants themselves on the authority of lines given by the contractor, stating the amount of the beach fee. The balance due is ascertained in the merchant's books, after deducting the amount due by the contractor for his own supplies at the shop.
[W.B.M. Harrison, 15,772; J. Manson, 2941; L.F.U. Garriock, 12,445, 12,443; A. Sandison, 10,108; P. Smith, 10,344.]
These are the cases in which exceptional circumstances are found in dealings between merchants and persons employed at the beaches. Throughout Shetland the most common arrangement is to pay splitters and beach-boys or women by a beach fee, which varies from £8 or £10 for the season to an experienced head curer, to 30s. to a beach-boy in his first year. Sometimes extra hands are paid weekly wages as day-workers. But even in these cases advances are generally made in goods; and sometimes, as at Mossbank and Greenbank, the account runs 'three, four, five, or six weeks or perhaps the whole season.' In a passage already quoted from the evidence of an extensive employer, it is made very clear that these people, in whatever way they are paid, are 'expected' to come to the employer for supplies.
[W. Pole, 5917; p. 14, see above.]
The operation of truck in this department is shown in the examination of Mr. Robertson, manager for Mr. Leask, who employs 80 persons regularly, and others occasionally, in his curing establishments near Lerwick. Mr. Robertson afterwards produced a 'time-book' for the people employed at Sound Beach, near Lerwick,
13,607. ….'to show the proportion of money and of goods received by each. [Produces book.]' '13,608. That is a time-book for the work-people employed in 1871 at Sound Beach, which is about a mile from Lerwick?-Yes. It shows the amount of cash paid, the balance, of course, being the amount of their accounts for the week.' '13,609. The first name is M'Gowan Gray?-He is the superintendent.' '13,610. The entry in his case is, Cash 2s., time 6, wages 10s.: what does that mean?-He has 10s. a week of wages, six days a week, and 2s. is the cash he has to get.' '13,611. The entry in the inner column is made at pay-day, showing the amount of cash he has to get?-Yes.' '13,612. How is the amount of cash ascertained?-We have a ledger account with each individual, which is settled every week, but perhaps it may not be balanced. We do not generally balance until the end of the year, but we square accounts before.' '13,613. Is the account squared to ascertain the amount of cash payable?-Yes, the amount of cash due to the individual.' '13,618. Are the balances entered here always paid in cash?- Always.' '13,619. Are they never allowed to lie?-Not with the work-people.' '13,620. Is the week ending 2d Sept. 1871, of which this- [showing]-is the account, a fair average of week throughout the season?-I think it will be about a fair average.' '13,621. It shows £5, 17s. 5d. as the total amount of wages earned; and of that, £3, 19s. 7d. was paid in cash at the end of the week, the rest having been taken out in the course of the week in goods?-Yes, principally in provisions.' '13,622. I see that in one case it had been altogether taken out in goods, and there was no cash due?-Yes; but in others you will find that there has been nothing taken out, and that the whole was paid in cash.' '13,623. I see that in six cases cash has been paid in full out of twenty-seven people employed?-Yes.' '13,624. I fancy that in that week rather more has been paid in cash than the average, because in the following week £2, 9s. 2d. was due, and £1, 1s. 6d was paid in cash. In another week £4, 12s. 2d. was payable, and £1, 11s. 10d. was paid in cash. In another week £4, 6s. 9d. was payable, and £1,4s. 5d was paid in cash, there being twenty-five persons employed in that week. Then, in the last week which appears in the book, £3, 14s. 7d. was payable, and £1, 2s. 7d. was paid in cash, there being twenty-five persons employed then also?-Yes; people of course require the same amount of provisions whether they earn much or little, the amount of their balance in cash being less where the work has been less.'
[W. Robertson, 11,248.]
The story from other places is much the same. Thus, at Scalloway, where Messrs. Hay & Co. have a curing establishment, their manager's evidence is:-
'11,430. Is payment made to them in the shop at the counter?- Yes. Their advances are entered against them in the book, and then their wages are placed to their credit; and if they have anything to get, it is given to them.' '11,431. Is there a separate ledger account for each of these parties?-Yes; every one has an account, and when he gets advances these are put to that account.' '11,432. Can you say that any money ever passes at any settlement with these beach people?-Sometimes there has been a little, but not a great deal.'
[G. Tulloch, 11,430.]
The beach fee, which is the usual mode of payment to beach-boys,
is almost always anticipated to a large extent, and the advances of
goods sometimes begin as soon as the boy is engaged in the
winter-
[W. Goudie, 4401; J. Flaws, 5011; T.M. Adie, 5754; T. Thomason, 6241; J. Anderson, 6602; T. Hutchison, 12,608; J. Robertson, sen.,14,086; J. Garrioch, 8791; W.G. Mouat, 10,277.]
At Quendale, Sumburgh, and other places, where the tenants are bound to deliver their fish to the landlord, it is one of the conditions of their holding that 'they have to supply boys when they have them suitable for the purpose.'
[G. Jamieson, 13,361; A. J.Grierson, J. Bruce jun., G. Irvine, W.Goudie, 4369; J. Burgess, 5106.]
The cod fishing in smacks, chiefly on the banks near the Faroe Islands, has become an important branch of commerce in Shetland, In 1871 it employed 63 smacks, whose total tonnage was 2809 tons. They carried 816 men.' The produce of the fishing 1871, an unsuccessful year, was 370,597 fish, weighing 14,337 cwt. dry. In addition to these vessels belonging to Shetland owners, five curers in Shetland purchased at a fixed price the fish of 21 English smacks (tonnage, 680; men, 210), being 200,042 fish, weighing 5097 cwt. dry. The whole cure from the Shetland Faroe fishing was thus 19,434 cwt. In 1867 the Shetland smacks, 61 in number, weighing 2326 tons, and carrying 699 men, brought home 399,148 fish, or 14,031 cwt. In that year 24 English smacks (tonnage, 960; men, 222) sold to curers in Shetland 175,125 fish, or 6280 cwt.; making the total cure in Shetland in that year 21,301 cwt.
In the Faroe fishery the smacks always belong to the curer or
merchant. A written contract is made with the men, generally in
December. They agree to join the vessel on a day fixed, or to be
fixed, in March, and to prosecute the fishing until the middle of
August, on the coasts of Faroe, or other places in the North Sea,
exerting themselves to make a successful fishing. If any person
fails in the performance of his duty, his fee is to be reduced. The
owners become bound to cure the fish, which the men split and
salt on board as soon as caught. The owners sell the fish, when
cured, for the benefit of all concerned. From the proceeds are
deducted the expense of curing and of bait, together with a
commission of five per cent. in some cases, for management and
sale, allowances to master and mate, and score money,
[L.F.U. Garriock, 12,414; T.M.Adie, 5726; J. Walker, 15,941, 15,957; W. Pole, 5956; W. Robertson, 13,603.]
The vessel is fitted out ready for sea by the owners; salt and curing materials are put on board at the joint expense; but the men provide themselves with lines and hooks, and all provisions except bread. These they always buy at the owner's shop, and they are entered in their private accounts. It is unnecessary to analyze the evidence as to the custom of dealing with the merchant-owner for provisions, etc. for the family, which is exactly similar to the custom already described as prevailing among the ling fishermen. Some of that evidence has already been noticed, and the chief passages are noted on the margin. Some of the evidence led me to think that the proportion of out-takes to earnings is less in the Faroe fishing than the ling fishing, and this theory was confirmed by several obvious considerations. The men are often young men without families or with small families, and they sometimes live at such distances from the merchant's shop as to make it inconvenient to resort thither constantly. Moreover, in years of average success, the earnings of the Faroe fishing are larger than those of the ling fishing, and the men therefore are generally more independent. It follows from the nature of the employment, that they are also upon the whole a more active and energetic class of men than those exclusively engaged in the ling fishery.
[C. Sinclair, 1157; J. Johnston, 12,232; W.B.M. Harrison, 15,720;P. Garriock, 15,212; M. Johnston, 7868; J. Pottinger, 13,592; W.Blance, 6099; P. Blance, 8521, (supra p. 15) W. Pole, 5956.]
It appears, notwithstanding, both from the statements of witnesses and the returns, that a very considerable proportion, not less than in the ling fishery, of the earnings of Faroe fishermen is paid in 'out-takes.' Mr. Lewis Garriock, one of the leading merchants, says:
'The fishermen's proportion is paid to each of them in cash, under deduction of any provisions and articles of clothing for themselves, and provisions, etc., supplied to their families during the season, so far as they have supplied themselves from us; but they are under no obligation to take such advance from us, and can, if they choose, buy their articles from any shopkeeper, either for cash (which many of them have spare) or on credit. A few of the men can do without advances, having spare money; but the fishing could not be carried on if we were not to supply them, especially as regards the lads in their first and second year.'
'In years when the fishing is not remunerative advances merchants making these lose heavily in bad debts.'
'I have gone carefully over the accounts with the crews of two smacks, and produce an abstract of the men's accounts, which shows that, as respects one of them in 1870, we accounted to them for £427,19s. 2d., of which they had from us for lines, hooks, and provisions on board, £71, 7s. 9d.; clothing, and supplies of meal, etc., to their families, £114, 14s. 5d.; and in cash, £239, 17s. The other crew, in 1870, had, in lines, hooks, and provisions, £81, 7s. 11d.; goods, £129, 0s. 8d.; and in cash, £374, 13s. 6d. The same crew, in 1871, in lines, provisions, etc., £63, 3s. 4d.; goods, £67, 7s.; cash, £198, 9s. 7d. Looking at the last two years, as regards our fishermen in smacks, it appears they have had considerably more than half their gross shares paid them in cash .'
'We would, as merchants, greatly prefer a cash system, payment being made upon the fish being delivered, the same as we do to English smacks fishing-for us at a contract price-and we derive about one-third of our cure from this source. But I believe were such a mode attempted, it would lead to fixed wages, and would end in loss to both men and owners and a great falling off in this branch of the fishery.'
I have already mentioned that some attempts have been made to hold tenants or their sons bound to engage in their landlords' or tacksmen's smacks for this fishing; but it rather appears that these attempts have not always been successful. [See pp. 7, 15]
The men have not come forward to complain of this. The only grievance which some of them have stated is, that they do not see the bills of sale, and that they are therefore not satisfied that they are fairly treated in settling.
[M. Johnston, 7868; P. Blance, 8531; J. Pottinger, 13, 658.]
This fishery is carried on chiefly by Garriock & Co., Reawick, who used to have ten or twelve, but last year had only five smacks engaged in it, with crews of nine hands. The fishing season is from 1st May to 15th August.* The men are engaged on shares, and are settled with in the same way as those on board the Faroe smacks. There is this difference, that the owners do not provide bread or coals, and the men get seven-twelfths of the earnings. The men come home every week. A copy of a settlement with the crew of one of these vessels, produced by Mr. Garriock, shows that four-fifths of the whole earnings were paid in cash, the rest being taken in goods.
*
[L.F.U. Garriock, 14,468; J. Johnston, 12,236; L.F.U. Garriock, 12,474.]
The manufacture of kelp from sea-weed is still prosecuted to a large extent on the coasts of Shetland. The tang or sea-weed is gathered and burnt by women, from May till August. In most cases the fish-merchant of the district has a tack or lease of the kelp-shores from the landlord, for payment of a royalty of about 15s. per ton. The women are employed by him, or without any previous arrangement gather the kelp and burn it,- of course with the understanding that they must deliver it to him. They invariably have accounts at his shop for provisions, tea, and dry goods. The merchants themselves state that these accounts generally exhaust the whole summer's earnings. The accounts are generally settled in winter,-sometimes, as in Unst, when the kelp is delivered; and it is not alleged that the women have any difficulty in getting money, if any is due to them, at settlement. There are in most districts two prices for kelp, or more properly two rates of wages for gathering and burning kelp,-at present, 4s. per cwt. if paid in cash, 4s. 6d. if paid in goods; and it is usually paid in goods. In one or two places I found only one price, 4s.; and at Greenbank, in North Yell, Messrs. Pole, Hoseason, & Co. pay 3s. 6d. in cash, and 4s. in goods. In Unst, from 120 to 130 women were employed and at Lunna 60.
[P.M. Sandison, 5262; H. Williamson, 6337; Mrs Hughson, 6360;E. Peterson; 6466; J. Anderson, 6632; D. Greig; J. Brown, 7986; J.Garriock, 8839.]
Every shopkeeper in the country districts buys eggs and butter. The wife of the small farmer has the management of this department of rural economy. She takes the eggs and butter to the shop, and seldom thinks of getting money for them. They are commonly paid for in goods, which are handed over at the time; but it does not appear that money would be refused if asked for. I found no instance of transactions of this kind being entered in an account.
[E. Peterson, 6484; W. Stewart, 8967; A. Sandison, 10,169; G.Tulloch, 11,437; W. Harcus, 11,853; G. Georgeson, 12,038,12,047; A. Abernethy, 12,254; L.F.U. Garriock, 12,295; R.Henderson, 12,929; T. Tulloch, 13,015; R. Simpson, 14,022.]
In some districts the people make a grey woollen cloth, which they dispose of to the merchants or shopkeepers. Mr. Anderson, Hillswick, states that most of his dealings in this cloth are settled for at the time in cash or goods. Another witness testifies to the difficulty of getting money, and his being obliged to take goods; and it appears that formerly there was one price in goods and another in cash. There is little evidence about this industry, which is now confined to particular districts. It shows that those who are free prefer to settle in cash or goods, as they choose, at the time of delivery; but that where the maker or her husband is indebted, it enters the account, and the merchant gives such amount of cash or goods as he judges fit. The wool is sometimes provided by the merchants at a price fixed and marked in account, and the cloth is paid for at the current price when returned, the cost of the wool being deducted. The people never think of selling the manufactured goods to another merchant. It may be a question whether the colourable sale of the materials to the workwoman saves transactions of this kind, in the making of woollen cloth, from the operation of the existing Truck Act.
[Mrs. C. Johnston, 8163, 8124.]
The herring fishery is prosecuted in Shetland to a very limited extent, and in late years has not been fortunate. It has been said that this want of success is because the men of Shetland do not go to the herring fishing till late in the year, when the shoals have passed them. In 1833 the herring fishing in Shetland is stated to have employed 500 boats and 2500 men; and the total number of barrels cured to have been 10,000 in 1830, 20,000 in 1831, 28,000 in 1832, and 36,000 in 1833.* It is carried on in August and September by some of the men who have been engaged in the ling fishery during the earlier part of the season. The men are paid at a fixed rate per cran, as at Wick, the men buying from the curer nets, which are put into their accounts. A witness stated that it took him, or rather his crew, between eight and nine years to pay off the price of his nets, 'because they had lean fishings.' The price of the herrings is credited to the men at the annual settlement.