12,177. Did you make a special offer to any particular crews?-I have said to some of the men to tell their skippers what I had offered. The skipper was not in at the time, but I told one of the men that I would give him 10s. more than any other one if he would give me his fish.
12,178. Have you reason to believe that the man carried your message to the skipper?-Yes; I know he did carry it.
12,179. Did you get any answer to it?-No.
12,180. Then how did you know that the man had carried your message to the skipper?-Because I asked the skipper afterwards about it; and he said he had been engaged at the beginning of the season to deliver his fish to another party.
12,181. Were these fish to be cured by himself?-Yes.
12,182. Are contracts made so early as that with men who cure their own fish?-In some cases they are.
12,183. Was the other party in this case Messrs. Garriock & Co.?-I don't think it was. I would rather mention the name privately. [Hands in the name of a fish-curing firm.]
12,184. Are these gentlemen you have named extensive purchasers of cured fish in your district?-I believe they would buy all they could get.
12,185. Perhaps they have the same difficulty which you experience in buying fish?-I suppose they have.
12,186. Do you carry on any business with men who are engaged to fish in the ling fishing for Messrs. Garriock & Co.?-Yes. I supply the crews with what they require for the fishing, such as lines, and hooks, and tar.