12,712. Was it ever repaid to you?-It was never repaid to me, but these fines were repaid to some others. It was repaid to Andrew Williamson, for one. There were six men belonging to Skerries who went to Greenland in 1855, and they were all fined £2 each.
12,713. That is a very old story. Did it ever happen again?-No.
12,714. Have men gone to Greenland from Skerries since then?- Yes.
12,715. And they have not been fined?-No.
12,716. How did they escape?-I cannot say.
12,717. They just had their liberty, and nothing was said to them?-Nothing.
12,718. Do you think the fines imposed on these six men served as a warning?-I don't think so.
12,719. That did not prevent other men from going to Greenland?-No, not for a few years back.
12,720. But did it do so at the time?-No; some men went to Greenland immediately after that, and were not fined. I think the fines were imposed on these six men in order to try to stop them from going there; but it did not have that effect, and it was not attempted again.
12,721. Why did you not get back your fine, when it was repaid to Williamson and the other men?-I never asked it back.