5935. On the land which you hold as owner or tacksman, are there many of the tenants who are fishermen and are employed by your firm?-Yes, there are a great many fishermen.
5936. Are they under any obligation to fish for you, and not for another?-Yes; we expect them fish for us in preference.
5937. That is part of the contract which they enter into for their ground?-Yes; but it is also understood that we are to give them the current price of the country.
5938. What are the properties of which you are tacksman?- Aywick, in East Yell.
5939. What is the number of fishermen on that property?-There are only four or five of them who fish to us. There are a good many others, but they do not [Page 147] fish to us. Some of these men go to the whale fishing, and we are not interested in it.
5940. They are not bound to fish for you if they go to the whale fishing or to the Faroe fishing?-No; not unless we require them. If we require them, they will give us the preference willingly.
5941. Is it part of the arrangement or understanding, that you are entitled to prevent them from going to the whale fishing or to the Faroe fishing if you please?-No; they are at perfect liberty to go to the whale fishing if they prefer it.
5942. But if they engage in the home fishing they are bound to fish to you?-Yes, if we wish it.
5943. What other properties are held in tack by you?-Sandwick, in North Yell.
5944. How many men are upon it?-There are seven or eight families, the heads of which are all fishermen, and they fish to us. There is another small property called Sellafirth, in North Yell, on which I think there are four or five men. We are also factors for George Hoseason of Basta, in North Yell.