926. But, notwithstanding that, you would make more money by being allowed cure them for yourself?-We believe that, and we know it. We know that we would make more money than we have ever got.
927. To whom would you have an opportunity of selling your fish cured?-We could them to any one who would give us the most for them.
928. Are there people there who would buy them from you?-Yes, there are plenty of merchants in Shetland or in the south country who would come and buy them; and we would have a chance of sending them south at our own risk, or to our own advantage.
929. Has any one in Burra ever cured his own fish?-No; I believe no one has ever done so since Burra rose out of the water.
930. Has any one near Burra done so?-Havera is near Burra, and belongs to the same parish, and I cured my own fish there.
931. Why did you leave Havera and go to Burra?-Havera is a very small island, and it became too strait for me.
932. The population was increasing too rapidly?-Yes.
933. Had you not a holding of your own there?-No; I got married, and had to look out for a holding somewhere; and I was, by the law of necessity, compelled to move against my will.
934. Are there any dealers in Scalloway who would buy your fish from you if you were allowed to sell them?-Yes; there are Charles Nicholson and Robert Tait.
935. Do they buy fish cured?-They buy them either cured or uncured, and also what may be properly called half-cured-that is, salted but not dried.