909. Was the memorial not sent up within the last three or four years?-No; it was longer than that, to the best of my recollection. Our petition was got up very shortly after we were wanted to sign the obligation. 910. Did you complain much at that time about the herring fishery?-I believe some of the men did but am not a herring fisher. 911. What is the usual amount of rent that you pay in Burra?-It will run from £6 to £2, 10s., or perhaps as high as £7. 912. That rent is paid for a small piece of ground?-Yes. 913. Is there a right to the pasture in the scattald besides?-Yes. 914. Your scattalds in Burra are not extensive or of much value?- No; they are of very little value. 915. Do you know of any other agreement having been signed by the Burra men, or asked from them, except that one eight years ago?-I have heard of another, but it was before I came to the island. 916. Was there any particular reason for getting the agreement signed eight years ago? Was there general renewal of your holdings; or what reason was assigned for it?-I know of no reason for it, except merely that we were to fish for nobody except Messrs. Hay & Co. 917. But was there any reason for it being signed that particular time?-I believe it was about that time, or immediately after, that Mr. Irvine came to be a partner of Messrs. Hay & Co. 918. There was a change in the firm about that time?-Yes. 919. Are there any leases given in Burra?-I never knew of any being given. 920. Do you know that most of the young men in Burra go to the Faroe fishing?-They do. 921. Do you know that they have shipped both with Messrs. Hay and with other merchants?-Yes. 922. Do they get the same terms both from Messrs. Hay and from other merchants?-I believe they do, so far as I know. 923. Do you know from your own knowledge, whether there is any objection made by Messrs. Hay to their shipping with other merchants for the Faroe fishing?-I have not heard of any recently, but it used to be objected to a few years back. There have been good fishings at Faroe for some time back, and all the agents can get plenty of men; so that there is no need for any restrictions. 924. Supposing you were at liberty to deliver your fish to any other merchant than Messrs. Hay, what reason have you for supposing that you would be better paid than you now are?-I have been a fisherman in Burra for fourteen years, and I was a fisherman in Havera for twenty years before that. There I cured my own fish, and I could do with them what I liked; and I learned there how much I could make by curing them for myself, or selling them to any one within reach who would buy them green. 925. It costs you something, both money and trouble in curing them?-Yes. 926. But, notwithstanding that, you would make more money by being allowed cure them for yourself?-We believe that, and we know it. We know that we would make more money than we have ever got.