8753. Why do you pay so heavy freights? Can you not have the fish landed at Urrafirth in the first place?-No. We send them there as a convenience for ourselves, but the men are bound to land them at Voe, and we have to remove them at our own expense. We have no storage at Urrafirth for them, and they have to be removed to our own stores again.
8754. Why do you carry your fish to Urrafirth to be cured?- Because we have not sufficient accommodation for them all at Voe when we have a large take of fish.
8755. Then you have to send your surplus fish all that way to be cured?-Yes.
8756. Does it not arise in that way that you have a loss upon these fish?-Yes, we have a loss upon the fish when we cure them by contract.
8757. These fish will cost you more than 50s. for curing?-Yes, they cost us considerably more.
8758. But that will be recouped by your other profit?-Yes; but of course we must pay that extra out of our own pockets.
8759. But it does not follow that you have a loss upon the total proceeds of the fish?-No, we would not need to have that.
8760. The profit you calculate upon obtaining from the sale of your fish is sufficient to cover an occasional loss of that sort, and is calculated accordingly?- Yes. Of course, the extra charge on the curing at Urrafirth won't come to nearly the £1 per ton which we have for storage and commission on the fish.
8761. Is there any one else who wishes to be examined?- [No answer.] Then I adjourn the inquiry here until further notice.
[<Adjourned.>]