623. But you had it in your power to refuse at the end of the ten years, as well as at first, to pay the increased rent?-No. That was the condition he offered to give us the lease upon. Besides, he was to have it in his power to cause any man who took a lease to make such improvements as he thought proper; and if he did not make the improvements then Mr. Bruce was to make them himself, and charge the men a certain interest. 624. Was the lease which he offered you in writing?-No, it was in print. I will send a copy of it. 625. You say there is no liberty money paid in your district now?-No. My father paid 50s. of liberty money at one time; but the rents have been raised, so that the liberty money is included in the rent now. 626. How long ago was that?-I think it is about ten years since the rent was raised. 627. Have you any other reason than you have stated for supposing that you will be turned out of your ground if you fished for another than Mr. Bruce?-It is a general belief that we would be turned out. 628. But I want to know the ground of that belief. How long is it since Mr. Bruce took up the business?-Eleven years. 629. Was there at that time any intimation made to you or to the other tenants that you were expected to hand your fish over to him?-There was a letter from old Mr. Bruce sent round to all his tenants. One letter served for them all. If I am not mistaken, the officer went round among them with it. 630. Did he show you the letter?-He read the letter; and in it Mr. Bruce stated that he gave his tenants over into the hands of his son. His son became his tack-master. 631. That letter was not delivered to you?-No; I don't think it was. 632. Was there not a copy of it sent to each tenant?-I don't think there was. It is eleven years ago; and I don't remember any of the particulars that were in it. 633. Do you mean to say that that letter was the beginning of the understanding which now exists about fishing?-Certainly it was. 634. What did it say about that matter?-I really cannot say now what was in the letter. 635. Did it intimate that he had handed over the Dunrossness tenants to his son?-Yes; I think that was the purport of the thing. 636. Did it say anything about the fishing?-It was understood that he handed over the fishing. At that time there were different merchants in Lerwick who were receiving fish from the tenants, and they had all to remove their goods from that district. 637. Had they stores?-Yes, they had stores and goods for supplying the fishermen; and they had all to remove except Messrs. Hay & Co. 638. Were these merchants warned out?-I cannot say. 639. I suppose they paid rent to Mr. Bruce for these stores?-Yes; at least for liberty to have the stores there. [Page 13] 640. Who were these merchants?-Hay & Co. were put out of the store that Mr. Bruce now occupies. 641. But they have a store at Dunrossness yet?-Yes, they have a store there.