2819. Suppose you pay 25s. for a shawl, at what price will you invoice that to your southern customer?-Generally, I would just invoice it at about the same price. Sometimes I am obliged to put it lower, but when an article after dressing turns out to be better than I expected, then I may put a shilling or so upon it.
2820. Do you keep an invoice-book?-I keep no invoice-book, but only a day-book and ledger.
2821. The day-book shows the number of shawls you send south, and the prices at which they are invoiced?-Yes.
Lerwick, January 4, 1872, WILLIAM JOHNSTONE, examined.
2822. You are a merchant in Lerwick in the same line of business that is carried on by Mr. Robert Sinclair?-Yes, something similar
2823. You deal in the same articles, and purchase hosiery in the same way?-Yes.
2824. Do you also employ knitters?-Yes.
2825. How many of them do you employ?-I can hardly tell. I have very few just now. I have sometimes had as many as from 30 to 50, but I have not nearly so many at present. I don't think I have a dozen altogether just now.
2826. Do they mostly live in Lerwick?-Yes.
2827. Are these knitters so employed by you paid for their work by taking goods, or do you, sometimes pay them in cash?-They are generally paid by taking goods. If they ask for a little cash at any time, I will give it.