4885. Do you also get advances in money, in the course of the year before settlement, if you want them?-Yes; whenever I ask for them. Our place is far away from the bank, and sometimes Mr. Bruce may have run out of money by so many people having gone and asked it from him; but if I go to him and ask him for money, and he does not have it, he tells me when to come back and get it.
4886. In that case, when you get the money, do you spend it generally at Mr. Bruce's shop, or do you go and deal at some other store with it?-I generally go to some other store.
4887. Do you find that you get your goods cheaper at another store than at his?-I am under that impression, but I never compared his goods with those of other merchants.
Lerwick, January 9, 1872, GEORGE WILLIAMSON, examined
4888. You are a fisherman at Eastshore, Dunrossness, and a tenant on Mr Bruce's land?-I am.
4889. You have been there for thirteen years?-Yes.
4890. Do you remember a time when the fishermen got their freedom there?-That was before I came to the place.
4891. Were they understood formerly to be bound?-Yes, in old times they were bound; but, just about time when I came there, old Mr. Bruce gave them their liberty, and they were all free.
4892. Was there an understanding previously, that they were bound to fish only to him, or to his tacksmen?-Yes: but, two or three years before I came they got their liberty.
4893. Was there any payment made for that?-Each landholder had to pay 15s. a year for his freedom.