no REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



There are vouchers at the Comptroller's office belonging to these accounts 

 amounting to $1,335.94, for disbursements made by the late Secretary, that have not 

 yet been audited by the Comptroller. 



I am under obligations to Hon. James A. Roberts, Comptroller, W. E. Merriam, 

 Deputy Comptroller, William G. Shaible and William B. Wemple, of the Comptroller's 

 office, for courteous treatment and valuable assistance. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Ch.ari.es a. T.a.yi,(>r. 



Repeated efforts were made by this Commission to collect the balance shown by 

 the foregoing report to be due the State, and close the matter before the expiration 

 of the fiscal year, but without success. As has been already stated, the late Secretary 

 set up the claim that a large number of oyster franchises that had been sold and 

 recorded were not paid for, and that these should be deducted from the amount held 

 to be due the State from him. This claim the Commission could not allow without 

 further investigation. 



Of the amount due the State on the shellfish account, $2,145 was owing by the 

 Matinecock Oyster Company, who refused to pay on the ground of alleged irregu- 

 larities in the sale of the franchise, by which the company was induced to bid a much 

 larger sum than the grounds were worth. A representative of the company came 

 before the Commission at a regular meeting held June 5, i8q6, and the matter was 

 fully discussed and finally adjusted to the satisfaction of the Matinecock Oyster Com- 

 pany, and without prejudice to the interests of the State. 



For the purpose of effecting a final settlement with the late Secretary, the 

 unsettled accounts were referred to Commissioner ]«bcock. Certain unaudited 

 vouchers, heretofore mentioned, amounting to $1,335.94, for ilisbursements made on 

 account of this department, were finally audited b)- the JExecutive Committee at 

 $854.52, which amount was placed to the credit of the Secretary. Later, Commis- 

 sioners Babcock and Holden met the late Secretary at the office of the Shellfish 

 Commissioner in New York city, and a basis of settlement of the account was agreed 

 upon, the late Secretary paying to this Commission the further sum of $2,905.42, and 

 a representative of the New York and Long Island Oyster Company the additional 

 sum of five hundred and ninety-three dollars and twenty-five cents ($593.25). 



Credits were allowed for shellfish leases undelivered and presumably unpaid for, 

 services rendered and expenses incurred by the former Secretary for which payment 

 had not been made, amounting in all to $4,190.67, which balanced the account. 



The total amount collected by this Commission on account of these shortages is 

 fourteen thousand two hundred and forty-five dollars and fifty-six cents ($14,245,56). 



