6285. But all that was done by these merchants in the confidence that the men would pay them, if they were able, by the next year's fishing?-No doubt they were repaid in some cases, but in some cases the repayment was very slow. That depended altogether upon whether the times turned out favourable.
6286. Do you know any of the men who were helped through in that way?-I have no doubt I know them, but I have no interest to say much about them. I don't want to enter into that matter at all. I am getting well advanced in life, and I don't want to speak about my neighbours' affairs.
6287. Were there many of your neighbours who were carried through in that sort of way?-There were a great many of them who required supplies.
6288. Did it take a great many years to carry some of them through, and to enable them to pay up what had been advanced to them?-I cannot tell how their accounts may be standing at present.
6289. Then you only suppose that some of them may have been able to pay up their debt in the course of the following year?-I know they did so; and I might take myself as a specimen of that.
6290. But you said that you have not required any advance for many years back?-Certainly.
6291. Do you think that within the last ten or fifteen years there have been many men who have required to be carried through in that way?-I don't know. Probably there may have been, but I have not been requiring that for myself.
6292. But you have been speaking about your neighbours, and you say it is an altered time with them?-It is, even within the time you have mentioned.
6293. Do you think some of them, within that time, may not have been able to pay their arrears in the course of next season?-I cannot exactly say.
6294. But you have said so?-Well, it would rather appear so.