8439. Did you always fish for the same merchant?-Yes, for John Anderson & Co. and for Mr. Leisk, who was there before them.
8440. You always had an account at Hillswick?-Yes.
8441. Did you always go to Hillswick for your supplies?-No; only twice a year. I went for my fishing gear before the season began, and then at the end of the season I went again to settle.
8442. Did you get supplies then?-Yes, if I needed them.
8443. Did you always get the balance in cash when it was due?- Very often it was not due, and I could not expect a thing which was not due.
8444. Why was it not due?-Because of the bad [Page 205] fishings, and of the meal being very dear then; much more so than it is now.
8445. Did you always get more supplies than the value of your fish?-No, I did not do that always.
8446. But generally?-No, not at any time; I always tried to deal so as not to be in debt.
8447. But you said there was seldom anything to get at settling?- There was very seldom any cash that I had to take, because they were lean fishings.
8448. And because you had got supplies up to the value of your fish?-No; but I did not ask for any supplies beyond what I required for the fishing, and perhaps a little meal for my family, which they could not do without.