16,980. Had the price been fixed at the beginning of the season?- No. The price was fixed daily, according to the market, the supply regulating the demand. That is the system at Burntisland, and at Anstruther, Pittenweem, and St. Monance.
16,981. Are the fishermen at these places in a prosperous condition under that system?-I think so.
16,982. Has there been a material change in their circumstances within your recollection?-Yes; a very great change. The boats and material have been very much improved.
16,983. Were the men at one time considerably in debt?-I don't know if they were much in debt, but they did not have the same class of boats, nor so good material, such as nets, and the like of that. Their boats are much better now than they used to be.
16,984. Do the boats there belong to the men themselves?-Yes.
16,985. Do you know whether many of the men in that district are now in debt to the curers or merchants?-A few of them may be but they are not so generally.
16,986. Was there formerly a system there of settling at longer intervals?-Yes. I think that generally they did not make a final settlement with the local curers until the end of the season; but there have been so many strangers going there within the last few years, that it seems to have been adopted as a rule to [Page 437] pay daily, or when the fishermen like to call for the money, which is at least once a week.
16,987. I suppose the railway has made a difference in that respect?-Yes; it has made a great change in the value of the fish.
16,988. Is the cod and haddock fishery prosecuted to great extent at Anstruther and Pittenweem?-It is.
16,989. Is it prosecuted chiefly for the fresh market?-Yes, principally.