Samuel Shepard, John Eringtoun and Hendre Neall, by their commission and instruction to Robert Jollie, dated at London 17 May 1708, empower him to repair to Shetland,

...and their to endeavour ane settlement of ane trade of fishing and other good for ther behoof ... the said Captain Jollie clearlie understanding that ther be severall acts of parliament made anent the importation of forreigne salt upon forreigne ships or bottoms to any place of south or north Brittain, that the Hamburger and Bremer merchants formerly trading to this country and also all other foreigners are precludit from any further trading to this place after the former maner, and he having taken it to his serious consideration the vast expence bestowed be former traders upon the number of eightein booths, ports and strands wher the fishing are made, as also ther factors and servants, fies, transport of goods to and from the severall ports wher the ships used to lye for preservation, the space of five or six moneths, and likewayes that the price of each ling hath alwayes bein three shilline and four shilline per pice when bought from the fishers, and likewayes the coad and brismack when equallie guilded at the same value, twelef shilline for each can of oyll, and twelef shilline for each hundereth harren, and ten pound for each hundereth skeet, with butter and others of the country product, at the ordinar and accustomite price, as also after dew information findes that the former Hamburgers and Bremers hath for this long time bygane carried off yearly from the country ten or twelef small ships loadenings, ammounting to about four hundereth lasts of fish, butter and oyl, and other product, by which means, after dew and serious consideration and calculation, find likewayes that for errecting and establishing the said designed trade of fishing and other product of the country, will require no less stock of salt, money and other goods...