10,093. Then you think the scattalds and kelp shores are not worth so much?-They might be worth that if they were taken from the tenants and developed into sheep-walks, but they are not worth that to us.
10,094. Have you not the power of making them into sheep-walks for yourselves?-Yes; but we have not done so.
10,095. The tenants still have the use of them upon certain conditions?-Yes.
10,096. Do they largely avail themselves of that right upon making that payment?-I am sorry to say that we lose about £100 a year by them.
10,097. Do you mean that you do not collect £100 a year which you are entitled to?-I say that when we have charged every tenant under us the full amount of scattald charges, we are £100 short of the rent under the lease, as our books will show.
10,098. Is that loss upon the rents and scattald charges, or upon the scattald charges only?-It is upon the rents and the scattald united. In short, we charge the tenants £1000 for rent and scattald charges, and we pay Major Cameron £1100.
10,099. The kelp is gathered by the women upon these shores and burned by them, and bought by you at so much per ton?-Yes.
10,100. Is the settlement for the kelp generally managed by way of accounts in your books in each woman's name?-No. They generally settled with at the time when they bring the kelp. We may have supplied them with meal or other necessaries while they were preparing the kelp, but as soon as they have prepared the settlement is at once made.
10,101. These supplies are entered in a ledger account under the woman's name during the time the kelp is being prepared?-Yes.
10,102. And then the amount of kelp is entered at the close of that account as settling it?-Yes.