13,433. Have you known men who would have fished for others if they had not been afraid of being warned?-I suppose they would have preferred that but warning comes to be a very serious thing here. In the south a man can shift from town to town and get employment: but here, if he leaves his house and farm, he has no place to go to except Lerwick, and there is no room to be got there, either for love or money.
13,434. Do you know of any case where compulsion has been used to oblige any of the men to deal at any of the stores in the district?-I cannot say that I have.
13,435. Do the men never get a hint to that effect?-No; but I suppose they are obliged to go through necessity, because they have no money with which to go anywhere else.
Boddam, Dunrossness, January 26, 1872, GEORGE M'LACHLAN, examined.
13,436. Are you the principal lightkeeper at Sumburgh Lighthouse?-I am.
13,437. Where do you get the supplies for your house?-I get most of them from Aberdeen and Granton.
13,438. Do you purchase them yourself?-Yes.
13,439. They are not supplied by the Commissioners?-no.
13,440. Have you got any supplies at the neighbouring shops?-I have got very little from Grutness.
13,441. Have you got any from Hay & Co.'s shop, from Quendale?-No. I opened an account with Mr. Henderson after I came; but I have only been here since 1st. July.