10,396. Consequently they were long in getting their money from you?-Yes.
10,397. Was it not quite fair that they should get little more for lying out of their money all that time?-Yes; but 2s. 6d. was too much to charge for interest. That was only on meal, but I could make more profit on groceries and soft goods too.
10,398. Have you anything more to say about the meal?-That is the only thing I can recollect about it.
10,399. Have you bought your meal in the same way ever since?- Yes, until last year, when I had as much as could supply myself.
10,400. How many bolls had you to buy in the course of the year?-From 4 to 6.
10,401. Do you think you lost 2s. 6d. a boll on each of these?-I have no doubt I did, for want of ready money.
10,402. What have you to say about the other things?-That was somewhat further back, but at any rate I have been out of pocket with Spence & Co. ever since commenced with them. I was a skipper where I was before, and got a skipper's fee; but the fee which I got from Spence & Co. is not so much as I got formerly. I fished for John Johnston for 11 years. For the first two years I was only a young fellow, and was to be paid according to my fishing. After that, I got promise of £4 of skipper's fee, and when he saw I was getting on so well he always gave me £5 afterwards. Then I was forced-at least I believed I was forced, although I know now that I was not-to go to Spence & Co. from John Johnston, because he got his warning and could not keep me, but had to sell his boats or boat.
10,403. When was that?-In 1867 or 1868. He had two boats, and he sold the one I was fishing in.
10,404. How were you forced to leave him?-Because Spence & Co. got a tack from Mr walker, and I and all the north parish understood that I had to leave my employer and go to them.
10,405. Were you not told that you were quite at liberty to fish either to Spence & Co. or to any other person?-I was never told that until I heard Mr. Sandison say it. I don't think it was told in the north of the island; at least I was not told about it.