12,005. So that you generally buy these cottons at a lower price than they have been charged at in Lerwick, but at the same price that you were in the habit of selling them for here?-Yes.
12,006. The knitters therefore would be losers nominally by the bargain?-Yes; but it was not much that they brought to me in that way-it was hardly worth mentioning.
12,007. What would be the difference in price on a yard of cotton?-Perhaps 1d.
12,008. Did you find that there was always that difference?-I don't exactly remember; but I remember sometimes looking at the articles, and seeing that they were inferior to mine at the same price. That was very easily seen.
12,009. Do the women sometimes object to give you the goods at a lower price than they had paid for them?-No. It was through necessity they came to me with them, and they always felt very grateful that they could get bread in exchange.
12,010. Has that system gone on at times until now?-Yes, at times.
12,011. You have some vessels employed in the Faroe fishing?- Yes, there are two.
12,012. Are these still in your hands, or have you handed them over to the company?-I have handed them over to the company, as agents.
12,013. But they are still your property?-Yes; at least they are partly mine. There are some other people who have shares in them.
12,014. Do the men who are employed in these Faroe vessels generally belong to Scalloway and the neighbourhood?-No; only a few of them. The others come from different parts of the country; some from as far west as Sandness, and others from as far north as Delting, and so on.