( 47 ) 



chemical science may discover some products entirely- 

 new which may become valuable. 



I regret to observe that some of the people employed Truck system of 

 complain of the Company resorting to the Truck *^^ ^''"'P^"^' 

 system, and paying wages in kind. I disapprove 

 much of that system, but I know the extreme 

 difficulty of abolishing it, especially in remote districts, 

 where there are no local banks, and where very often 

 it is for the convenience of both parties that money's 

 worth should pass as money. I am informed, more- 

 over, that the payments to the people are often made 

 long in advance of the delivery of the produce, and 

 partakes largely of the nature of a payment to credit. 

 In this case there not only is no competition, but there 

 can be none with the Company, because there are no 

 other traders in kelp, and no other chemists who de- 

 vote themselves to the methods of treatment devised 

 by Mr. Stanford. But it would be much better that 

 the nominal rate of wages should be reduced and 

 regularly paid in money. 



Before leaving the subject of the cottar or labour- Island unsuited for 

 ing population of Tyree, I must point out to the Com- "^eo ""k Texcefs of 

 mission that in one important matter the Island is number profitably 

 specially unfitted for the comfortable maintenance of ^^^ ^^^ * 

 any excess over the number which can be regularly 

 and profitably employed. I refer to the total ex- 

 haustion of the old peat mosses which once existed on 

 the Island, and which all over the Highlands generally 

 afi'ord abundant fuel. This resource is wholly want- 

 ing in Tyree. There are no peats, and the want of fuel 

 compels all the people to buy coal, or to resort to such 

 expedients as the burning of the stalks of weeds, and 

 even to the destruction of manure by the burning of 



