Second Shetland Truck System Report Part 402

MEN wish liberty in fishing, 544, 560, 659, 788, 1109, 4424, 4584, 4780, 12,635, 12,750, 12,865, 13,425, 13,840, 14,939.

MERCHANTS, monopoly of shop trade, 12,372.

MILLAR, Rev. Duncan (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 147), United Presbyterian clergyman at Mossbank, 5974; thinks the system of long payments injurious to men, as apt to lead them into debt and to teach them deception [Page 449], as it encourages smuggling, 5981; men curing for themselves, 5984; indebted men under control of shopkeeper, 5995; system by which men are forced to fish, 5997; hosiery, 6004; women would prefer payment in cash, 6006.

MOFFAT, Arthur (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 413), seaman at Lochside, Lerwick, and serves in Naval Reserve, 16,341; has gone to seal and whale fishing under various agents, 16,343; always deals with the one he sails under, 16,346; until 1867 had settlement at agent's office, 16,347; since then at Custom-house, 16,348; goes down from there and settles his account, 16,349; amount paid on advance notes is not sufficient to sustain his family, and therefore he prefers to leave his advance notes in the agent's hands and let his family obtain supplies from him, 16,359; generally has a balance to get at settlement, 16,366; wife gets cash when she asks, 16,368; men are quite free to deal, but generally go to the shop of the agent they sail under, 16,373.

MONCRIEFF, Laurence (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 281), baker and provision merchant in Scalloway, 11,461; deals in hosiery, 11,463; pays in goods, 11,464; never gives money, 11,465; mentions case of a woman bringing soap and bartering it for provisions, 11,475; gets worsted from Edinburgh, 11,507; cannot get Shetland wool, 11,508; deals in ready money with fishermen to a small extent--does not run accounts with them, 11,518; possibly a ready money system would improve his trade with them, 11,521.

MONEY articles, 451, 3473, 5093, 6368, 11,545.

MONRO, Alexander (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 409), second officer of Customs at the port of Lerwick, 16,141; for five years, 16,142; when new regulations came into force in 1867, merchants endeavoured to make deductions other than those they had a right to make, but were stopped, 16,147, 16,148; it is understood that men always pay their accounts to agent after they are settled with, 16,163.

MOODIE, Mrs Elizabeth (a.n.a.lysis of her evidence, p. 36), knits, 1848; knits partly with her own and partly with dealer's wool, 1851; paid in goods, 1855; but can get some money if she wishes, 1856; gets lines, 1875; sometimes sells them for money, 1879; has sold to strangers at a cheaper rate that she might get money, 1881, 1882; could always have wool for goods, 1890.

MOODIE, Peter (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 371), seaman and fisherman in Lerwick, 14,761; has been at sealing and whaling for a number of years, 14,762; under various owners, 14,764; green hands generally get outfit from merchants, 14,766; goods are as cheap at agent's shop as any other, 14,769; at settlement paid in full at the Custom-house, with the exception of ship's bill, 14,773; no compulsion is used to make him pay his account at agent's, 14,779; men generally get their goods from agent who employs them, but not bound, 14,796; has got money from Shipwrecked Mariners' Fund, and has always got cash from agent, 14,800.

MORE, Daniel (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 232), fisherman and proprietor of house at Cunningster, 9632; once opened a shop at Basta, and the landlord (a merchant) put him out because he was succeeding too well, 9634; turned out of another place because he would not fish, 9638; heavier rent charged when men do not fish, 9639-9645.

MORRISON, Elizabeth (a.n.a.lysis of her evidence, p. 394), lives in Lerwick, 15,637; lives by going errands, knitting stockings, etc., 15,638; sells occasionally neckties, 15,639; some years past sold goods for knitting-women, 15,644; has only once or twice done so lately, 15,649; does not make her living princ.i.p.ally by doing errands, 15,698; her evidence contradicted by Mrs E. Quin (p.

425).

MOUAT, Mrs. Andrina (a.n.a.lysis of her evidence, p. 39), lives at Girlsta; knits with her own wool, 2030; paid in cash and goods, 2044; sometimes could not get money, 2052; merchants are not willing to give money, 2067.

MOUAT, William Gilbert (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 249), partner of Spence & Co., 10,232; and co-manager at Baltasound, 10,233; corroborates Mr. Sandison, 10,236; thinks a system of monthly payments, if it could be introduced, would be an advantage, 10,238; system of book-keeping, 10,242, 10,277; deals a little in hosiery, 10,306; it is generally paid in goods, 10,308.

MOWAT, Magnus (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 434), boat-builder at Newhaven, 16,888; Shetland boats are inferior to those he is accustomed to build, 16,892; the timber is inferior, and they are lighter, 16,897; thinks a Shetland boat could be used for twelve or fourteen years at the utmost, 16,907; thinks one would be dear at 20, 16,914.

MOUAT, Robert (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 105), blacksmith at Olnafirth Voe, 4236; works princ.i.p.ally for Messrs. Adie, 4237; in getting goods from Messrs. Adie's shop, pays in cash, 4238; does not know whether there are two prices, cash and credit, 4239; never heard any complaints on the subject, 4247.

MULLAY, Robert (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 383), is a merchant and fish-curer in Lerwick, 15,140; and has a retail shop, 15,141; employs seven boats in the ling fishing, 15,142; and has a station at Ireland in Dunrossness, 15,143; the only place in the neighbourhood where fish can be landed and dried, 15,144; tenants not bound to fish to him, 15,145; but all do so, 15,146.

NICHOLSON, Mrs. Andrina Anderson or (a.n.a.lysis of her evidence, p. 78), lives in Lerwick, 3495; knits, 3497; has almost always had payment in goods, 3501; has often heard this system complained of, and she thinks justly, 3504; to get money she had to become a dresser, 3505; goods are sold at a higher price by dealers, 3508, 3510; therefore a money system would be much better, 3511; goods are sold by knitters to obtain money, 3516; payment in goods makes girls wear more expensive dress than they should, 3525.

NICHOLSON, Charles (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 211), is a fisherman at North Delting, 8681; for Pole, Hoseason, & Co., 8682; has account with them, 8685; settles at end of year, 8686; considers he is bound to fish for merchant, being indebted to him, 8695; meal, 8697; merchants charge a high price for their goods, 8704.

NICHOLSON, Charles (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 293), is a retired merchant in Scalloway, 11,906; was 25 years in business, 11,907; as fish-curer, draper, and general merchant, 11,908; sent ten or twelve boats to the ling fishing, 11,909; was not a tacksman, but landlord held him responsible for the men's rents, 11,912; men under no obligation to fish, 11,928; men on the island of Havera cure their own fish, 11,934; and he sold it for them, 11,935; without charging any commission, 11,938; they dealt with him for goods, 11,939; small boats are most suitable for Shetland fishing, 11,954; in one year, having had a serious loss in the sale of ling, men offered him the use of money they had saved, 11,975; merchants would require to be very honest under this system, for they have ample opportunities of deceiving, 11,981; dealt in hosiery only out of compa.s.sion for the poor people--exchanged bread for it, 11,997; or took goods for provisions, 11,998; thinks the goods given by Lerwick dealers for hosiery often inferior, 12,008.

NICHOLSON, John (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 212), lives in North Delting; fishes for Pole, Hoseason, & Co., 8720; price should be fixed at the beginning of season, 8722; deals at store, 8726; goods dearer there, 8731; quality inferior, 8732.

NICHOLSON, Peter (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 258), is a fisherman and tenant farmer at Haroldswick, 10,581; devotes himself entirely to farming now, 10,584; deals with Spence & Co., and other dealers, 10,587; pays in cash generally, 10,592; has a small account, 10,597; sorties yearly, 10,600; never bound to fish, 10,622; or to deal at any particular store, 10,623.

NICHOLSON, Thomas (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 81), draper, and to a small extent a dealer in hosiery, 3568; seldom gives lines, 3573; understood in the trade that hosiery is paid in goods, 3575; thinks a change would be beneficial, 3576; but would lower the prices given for hosiery, 3577; there is no profit on hosiery, 3584; pays partly in cash when required, 3593; it is an understanding that the price is princ.i.p.ally taken in goods, 3594; never knew of goods or lines being exchanged for cash or necessaries, 3599; but has heard that such things done, 3601.

NICOLSON, Rev. Nicol (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 291) clergyman of the Independent Church in Scalloway--has been there for twenty-two years, 11,871; supposed that he was well acquainted with the condition of the fishing population, but finds from the evidence led that he is not, 11,873; was once a fisherman, and when out of debt always got money from merchant if he wished it, 11,874; thinks weekly or monthly settlements would be an advantage if practicable, but in the majority of cases it would not be, 11,875; masters must have security for boats and lines, and so cannot be expected to pay weekly, 11,878; hosiery, 11,895; the rule is to paying goods, 11,898; thinks payment in cash would be an advantage to women, 11,900; thinks a ready money system would be advantageous, but does not see how it would work, 11,905.

OBLIGATION to fish. Tenants.

[Page 450]

OGILVY, Joan (a.n.a.lysis of her evidence, p. 236), knits with her own and other people's wool, 9731; always pays for worsted with cash, but never asked it in exchange for hosiery, 9734, 9735; cannot get payment for hosiery entirely in cash, 9746; gets any cash she requires from one dealer, 9781; never had lines, 9769 and 9787.

OLLASON, Charles (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 406), member of Ollason & Son, bootmakers, Lerwick, 16,018; produces letter from fisherman, stating that by some misunderstanding he had not got the wages he expected to get, and the amount was entirely swallowed up by fish-curer's account and account to a former employer retained from him at settlement, 16,019.

OLLASON, Margaret (a.n.a.lysis of her evidence, p. 37), lives in Lerwick, and knits for herself, 1902; sells generally to ladies, sometimes to dealer, 1904, 1905; is paid in money and goods, 1906; buys her own wool, 1920; it is generally preferred to knit for ladies and be paid in money, 1924.

OUTFIT, 2962, 9150, 9306, 10,801, 10,940, 12,407, 12,511, 13,755, 14,316, 14,765, 14,809, 14,827, 15,279, 15,549, 15,910, 15,947, 16,224, 16,270, 16,352, 16,534.

OYSTERS, 3970, 11,458, 11,802, 12,313.

PARAFFIN Oil, price of, 10,263.

Pa.s.s-BOOKS, 12, 243, 371, 495, 690, 1340, 1348, 1481, 1611, 1664, 1670, 1700, 1791, 1942, 2077, 2213, 2383, 2455, 2676, 2944, 3668, 4099, 4337, 4881, 5117, 5170, 5574, 6400, 6917, 6994, 8954, 9827, 10,329, 11,839, 12,138, 13,176, 13,470.

PETERSON, Euphemia (a.n.a.lysis of her evidence, p. 157), lives with her parents at Hillswick, 6441; father is a fisherman and tenant, 6442; she knits, 6444; is paid in goods, 6448; never asked or got money, 6460; makes her own worsted, 6462; has worked at kelp, 6463; would be paid in cash if she wished, 6467; eggs paid in goods, 6483.

PAUPERISM, 5234, 7272, 7631, 8637, 15,406.

PAUPERS, 7649, 8378, 12,496, 15,406.

PAYMENT of persons in curing establishment, 120, 2939, 5004, 5103, 5254, 5752, 5907, 6602, 8804, 10,110, 10,345, 12,808, 13,353, 14,086, 15,766.

PEACE, Thomas (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 425), partner of Peace & Love, drapers, Kirkwall; buys Shetland hosiery both from merchants and knitters, pays in cash, gets goods at about the same price from both; has been told there is no profit on hosiery; thinks a cash system would be a benefit to all parties concerned, 16,658.

PETERSON, Peter (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 164), is a fisherman at Hillyar and lives at Hillswick, 6772; tenant of land there, 6773; fishes for Mr. Laurence Smith, 6774; formerly fished for Mr. Anderson, 6776; left him because he refused to supply him with goods, as he was largely in debt, 6777; was summoned for the amount, 6785; no decree as yet in the action, 6791; fishermen are liable for the loss of hired lines, 6808; smuggling fish, 6822; when an indebted man ceases to fish for a merchant, he is required to find a cautioner, 6826; price of meal, 6834; men are not obliged to deal with merchant, 6842; his daughter works at kelp, 6851; knits, 6852; and sells his eggs, 6853; is generally paid in goods, but never asks money, 6856.

PETERSON, Laurence (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 166), is a fisherman, 6898; to Mr. Joseph Leask in Faroe fishing, 6900; formerly at home fishing under Mr. Anderson, 6901, 6902; had account at his shop, 6903; could not get cash during season, 6905; but had any goods he required, 6909; deals with Mr. Leask now, 6913; refused a pa.s.s-book, 6917, 6919.

PETRIE, Catherine (a.n.a.lysis of her evidence, p. 28), lives in Fetlar, 1416; knits her own wool, 1420; sells to dealers, 1432; paid in goods, 1439; price fixed by dealer, 1440; lines, 1465.

POLE, Joseph Leask (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 225), manager at Greenbank for Pole, Hoseason, & Co., 9335, 9336; fishermen generally have accounts, 9339; system of book-keeping, 9337, 9367; men are not hound to fish, but it is understood they shall do so, 9370; men are not bound for the Faroe fishing, 937l; are very temperate, 9382; hosiery is a bad speculation, 9402.

POLE, William (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 145), managing partner of Pole, Hoseason, & Co., merchants and fish-curers at Mossbank, 5877; generally corroborates Mr. Adie--current price for fish, how fixed, 5887-5900; thinks a price fixed at the beginning of the season would be no advantage to men, 5904; beach boys, 5907; obligation to fish in home fishing, 5936; not bound for whale or Faroe fishings, 5940; hosiery, 5962; meal, 5962.

POTATOES, 940, 10,019, 10,679, 11,628, 14,729.

POTTINGER, James (a.n.a.lysis of his evidence, p. 336), is a fisherman in Burra--lives with his father, who is a tenant there, 13,524; they spent upwards of 12 on repairs of house in 1865, and in 1866 Messrs. Hay charged 1 extra for 'peat-leave'--he refused to pay it, but it was deducted from him at settlement, 13,525; formerly was under Messrs. Hay, and now is under Mr.

Harrison, 13,538; Messrs. Hay did not object, 13,540; only had liberty because he was the master of a vessel, 13,551; some men have had to pay liberty money for their sons going to Faroe under another merchant, 13,552; men going to Faroe fishing sign a written agreement, 13,557; men are partners with the owners to the extent of one-half, 13,558; there is not much smuggling practised, 13,580.

PRICES, higher at store, 568, 598, 4313, 4542, 4614, 4662, 4734, 4742, 4794, 4835, 4860, 4887, 4978, 5045, 5300, 8403, 8704, 8731, 13,866, 13,940, 13,981.

-Higher on account of system of barter in hosiery dealings, 2866, 3176, 3508, 3909, 8040, 9585, 9715, 12,785, 12,826, 12,916, 13,085, 13,408, 13,442.

-of goods, 568, 598, 956, 959, 3423, 4238, 5801, 5856, 6193, 6266, 8731, 8887, 9299, 9583, 12,658, 12,756, 12,783, 12,826, 13,408, 13,465, 14,769, 14,860.

PRICE of fish, how fixed and ascertained, 4919, 5887, 8932, 9085, 9537, 9675, 10,125, 10,143, 12,277, 12,565, 13,027, 13,331, 13,648, 15,103.

-Fixed at first of season, 491, 860, 1409, 5201, 5814, 5904, 6213, 6267, 7059, 8508, 8722, 9951, 10,558, 12,090, 12,104, 12,885, 12,982, 13,519.

QUALITY of goods, 613,956, 959, 1394, 1650, 3009, 3039, 4313, 4742, 4799, 5801, 6266, 7398, 8732, 8887, 9899, 13,085, 13,408, 13,465.

QUIN, Mary Duncan or (a.n.a.lysis of her evidence, p. 425), lives in Kirkwall, was born in Lerwick, and lived there till seven years since; has knitted for twenty years, both with her own wool and that of merchants; always paid in goods, but did not need money much. Women who depended on knitting for a living often had to sell their goods for half-price to get money; sells at Kirkwall for money. Gives evidence as to the value of veils got from Grace Slater (p. 409) and E. Malcolmson (p. 409), 16,657.