Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners 23 



subject to the control and direction of the Commissioners from 

 the first day of April, in each year, until the first day of Octo- 

 ber following, has been observed by the Board of Public Works* 

 and the Commander of the State Fishery Force, the State 

 Steamer "Governor P. F. Thomas" having been in the service of 

 the Commission during the season of 1906, and the State 

 Steamer "Governor R. M. McLane" having been in like service 

 during the season of 1907. 



The section of law providing for the assistance of the State 

 Fishery Force, as above indicated, does not, in express terms, 

 provide for the maintenance and wages of the crew of the 

 State steamer while in the service of the Commission; and 

 some question has arisen as .to whether this item of expense is 

 properly chargeable to the State Fishery Fund, or to the State 

 special appropriation for the purposes of the Shell Fish Com- 

 mission. 



The Steamer "Governor P. F. Thomas," under the command 

 of Deputy Commander James H. Turner, in response to the 

 requisition of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners, reported 

 for service on June 28th, 1906, and remained with the Commis- 

 sion until September 28th of the same year. 



During this period covering about three months the sub- 

 sistence and wages of the crew of the "Governor P. F. Thomas" 

 were entirely paid l\v the Shell Fish Commission, by direction 

 of the Board of Public Works of Maryland, the amount of this 

 item of expense to the Commission for the service stated being 

 one thousand forty-nine dollars and eighty-three cents. 



Realizing the expense incident to the maintenance of one of 

 the State steamers while in the service of the Shell Fish Com- 

 mission, a conference with the Board of Public Works was 

 requested by the Shell Fish Commission before field operations 

 for the season of 1907 were begun, and on the 27th of March, 

 1907, as a result of this conference, the following resolution 

 was adopted by the Board of Public Works : 



"Resolved, That the Secretary of the Board of Public Works 

 be directed to instruct the Commander of the State Fishery 

 Force to place at the disposal of the Board of Shell Fish Com- 

 missioners the steamer "Governor R. M. McLane," and that the 



