10,860. Was the request you have mentioned from the fishermen to Mr. Leask to employ them a written one?-No; it was verbal.
10,861. How was it conveyed to you?-By the people themselves.
10,862. By how many of them?-By about half dozen or thereby; I cannot state the number exactly.
10,863. Did they come to Lerwick for the purpose?-They always come to Lerwick in November to settle their rent accounts; and in November 1870 a few of them requested Mr. Leask to build boats for them, and they would fish to him rather than to Johnston and Williamson.
10,864. Had Williamson given up business at that time?-No.
10,865. Had he still a shop and curing station at Ulsta?-Yes.
10,866. In consequence of the request made to you by the men, what steps were taken to take over the business at Ulsta?-The business was not taken over at all. Mr. Leask simply built boats for three crews, and employed three masters to obtain crews at Ulsta and West Yell. One boat belonged to Ulsta, and the other two to West Yell.
10,867. Did Mr. Williamson hold premises from Mr. Leask on the Ulsta estate?-Yes.
10,868. He paid rent for them, but he had no lease?-No.
10,869. Did he receive notice that his tenure was at an end?-Yes; he received notice of that verbally two years or year and a half before he had to leave.