8809. Why do they not want it?-I don't think there is any particular reason, except that they don't wish it in that way.
8810. Do you think they would rather have it settled for at the end of the year?-I think so.
8811. Are not the people that Messrs. Hay employ in the curing at Lerwick paid weekly wages?-Yes.
8812. But at all the stations, I suppose, they are paid by beach fees?-Yes; and these are paid at the end of the year.
8813. The books which you keep at Fetlar are, first, the wet fish book, in which each boat's crew has the amount of each delivery of fish entered?-Yes.
8814. Then you have another fish book showing the amount of dry fish shipped by your different vessels?-Yes; that book [showing] is for the season of 1871.
8815. Do you begin to ship so early as June?-Yes. The men generally catch a few fish in winter now, and these are shipped first. The wet fish that are caught in winter are not in the book I have brought.
8816. Have you a separate book for your winter fish?-Yes.
8817. What quantity of winter fish do you generally sell?-I cannot say exactly; but for about two years I have had only about 2 or 21/2 tons of dry fish. They are cured along with the first fish caught in the spring, and sent down.
8818. Then the shipment on June 6th of 4 tons 7 cwt. of ling will include some summer fish as well?-Yes, spring fish.