472. But you say you have your freedom?-Yes, at present; but we are doubtful if we can keep it, because young Mr. Bruce has taken the tenants at the place where he is living himself-at Dunrossness. He took the tenants there some three or four years ago, and he has built a house; and both we and the merchant are doubtful that he may take us into his own hand too. We rather think we might be worse off if we were taken back. 473. What do you mean by being taken back?-I mean, if the tenants were taken into his own hands again. 474. Have you any objection to the arrangement you have just now with Mr. Thomas Tulloch?-We cannot complain of it, further than that we don't know the price we are to get until we settle. We never had any chance of knowing that from any merchant we ever dealt with. 475. When do you arrange to go out to fish?-About the beginning of May. In some years it may be a month or a fortnight earlier, just as the weather is. 476. At that time do you make a bargain with Mr. Tulloch about the fishing, to fish for him, during the whole season?-Yes. We have so much confidence in him that we do not make any written agreement; it is all done by word of mouth. 477. To whom do the boats belong that you go out in?-The boat I go in is our own. It belongs to the crew. 478. How many of you are there?-Five men and a boy. 479. How long have you had your boat?-We have had our present boat for about seven or eight years. She was a second-hand boat, about five years old, when we got her. 480. You bought her yourselves?-Yes. 481. Is the price all paid up now?-Yes; it was paid a few years ago. 482. Then Mr. Tulloch makes his arrangement with you to go to fish about the 1st of May?-Yes. 483. What is the bargain? Is it that you are to fish for him during the whole season?-No; only till Lammas that is, the end of July; and after that we stick to the herring fishing. 484. But when you are at the ling fishing you give him all your fish?-Yes; the whole. Every time we come ashore we deliver them to his factor. 485. That is for the purpose of being cured?-Yes. 486. He takes an account of them as he receives them?-Yes. 487. And the only complaint you have against Mr. Tulloch is, that you don't get settled until when?-We get settled generally at settlement time but we don't know our price until we come to settle. 488. When is the settlement made?-We are not quite settled yet for last year; but when we are called on by our landlord to pay our rent, Mr. Tulloch has no objection to give us money for that. 489. Who do you pay your rent to?-To Mr. Bruce; he is the proprietor. 490. Then your complaint is, that you don't know the price of your fish until January?-Yes. 491. Would you rather contract with Mr. Tulloch to supply all your fish at so much per cwt.?-Yes.