769. And to a number of other men at the same time?-Yes. 770. By whom was it handed to you?-By Mr. Wm. Irvine, who is a partner of the firm of Hay & Co. 771. Was that in Burra or here?-It was in Messrs. Hay & Co.'s office in Lerwick. 772. Was it handed to the other men at the same time?-It was offered to them at the same time that it [Page 16] was offered to me. A certain number of them were present at the time. 773. How many?-I should think there might have been five present, exclusive of myself. 774. Did they all sign it?-I cannot say that they did, for I went out and left them there. 775. Then you are under no written obligation to fish for your landlord?-No. 776. Is there any other understanding or bargain between you that you shall fish only for him?-Yes, we were told that we must fish for them. 777. When was that said to you?-At the time, when I took a property from them in Burra. 778. How long is that since?-About fourteen years ago. 779. Who told you so then?-The late Mr. William Hay. 780. Have you ever been told so since?-I have. 781. By whom?-By Mr. William Irvine. 782. How long ago is that?-It is just eight years. 783. Was that at the same time when you were asked to sign the agreement?-Yes; it was on the same day. 784. Have you ever been told so since that time?-No; I have never sought to fish for anybody else, nor asked my liberty since then. I asked for my liberty that day when I was asked to sign the agreement. 785. Was it given to you?-No. I offered to pay 20s. if they would give me my liberty, but I could not get it for that. 786. Was any price fixed by them for that?-I offered 20s. for my liberty to fish for whom I liked, or to cure for myself, and I could not get it for the paying of the 20s. 787. Were you told what they would give it to you for?-No; they would not say. 788. Do you wish to fish for anybody else?-I should certainly wish to fish for anybody that I could get most from; but I should like especially to be the master of my own fish, to cure them for myself, and to sell them to the best advantage. 789. You mean you would like to catch and cure your own fish, and then sell them, do you?-Yes; that is what I would like. 790. Why do you, not do it?-Because we would be ejected from the place if we were not to deliver our fish to them. 791. What is your reason for supposing that?-Because we have been told so. 792. Was it on the occasion you have mentioned, eight years ago, that you were told so?-It was. 793. Have you been told since that you would be ejected if you did not deliver your fish to Messrs. Hay & Co.?-I have never since asked anything about it, so that I had no reason to be told so. 794. Has any person been ejected for selling fish to other merchants than Hay & Co., or for curing his own fish?-I think there have been such cases in Burra. I believe John Leask was ejected for not serving as a fisherman to Messrs. Hay & Co.