9566. Are you not in debt to anybody?-I may be about 1s. or 2s. in debt at the shop at Linkshouse, but that is all.
9567. If you engage to fish for Mr. Leask at Ulsta, will you open an account at his shop at once?-I should like to be as long as possible in opening an account.
9568. But I suppose you won't get through the summer without doing so?-No. Of course I could not get through the summer without a little supplies.
9569. Do you think it would be an advantage to you if you could get your fish paid earlier in the season?-It would be an advantage in some respects. If I was not fishing for the proprietor, and if he wanted his rent at Martinmas and I did not settle with the fishcurer, then the proprietor might come upon me for the rent before I had money to pay him, and put me to expenses for that.
9570. Don't the proprietors generally wait for your rent till after the settlement?-In some cases they do, but not always.
9571. Have you known cases where they would not wait until after settlement?-I have not known any but in some cases they would like to have the money as soon as it is due.
9572. Have you known any case in which the fishcurer would not advance money for the rent when the proprietor was needing it?-I never knew that.
9573. Does the fish-curer generally advance you money for that purpose?-Yes, if there is money coming to me at the settlement.
9574. Have you known a fish-curer giving a line to the proprietor for the rent?-Yes. I have got an order from one of our curers to the proprietor himself. I have got an order from Mr. Henderson to Messrs. Hay, and it was accepted the same as cash. That was last year; the order was for about £5. It was a stamped order on the bank. It was only for part of my rent, and I had to shift for the rest somewhere else.
9575. Was it a cheque for the whole balance due to you?-Yes.