10,386. You pay your rent to them, and deal with them at their shop at Haroldswick?-Yes, I get all my goods there.
10,387. Do you deal anywhere else?-No.
10,388. Why?-For want of money.
10,389. How do you want money?-Because I don't have it.
10,390. Have you had bad seasons?-I never was in debt before I came to Spence. & Co.
10,391. How did you get into debt with them?-From bad seasons in the first place, and from overpriced goods. Meal is over-priced, for one thing. My father has dealt twelve years with ready money; and I have seen the advantage he has got by it, and what I have lost.
10,392. Who is your father?-William Harper: he is a fisherman too; he has been master of a boat for about forty years to Mr. Spence.
10,393. How do you know that the meal is over-priced which you get from Messrs. Spence's shop?-The first meal I got from Spence & Co. was one boll, when I began to fish for them four years ago. My father got one half of the sack, and I got the other: I was charged 27s., and he was charged 24s. 6d.
10,394. Why was that?-I had nothing to give Spence & Co., but my father had ready money. That was in the spring before I commenced to fish.
10,395. You did not settle for the meal until the end of the year?- No.