FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. lOI 



together with the field-books and other important data showing title to and location 

 of hundreds of irregular parcels of land sold or leased by the State, should be on file 

 in the office of the Secretary of State and become public records in fact as well as in 

 theory. As it is, they are liable to loss or destruction. 



In this connection we desire to say that in our opinion the legitimate surveying 

 and mapping of these grounds chargeable to the State should be done by and under 

 the direction of the State Engineer and Surveyor, and at the expense of that depart- 

 ment, and that the advertising of the applications for leases should be at the expense 

 of the purchaser. 



There has been an expense incurred by this Commission since April 25th of about 

 $2,500 in advertising applications to lease lots for oyster cultivation, and nearly or 

 quite as much more in various kinds of engineering and other expense connected 

 therewith. 



These lots are in parcels from one-half acre to eight or ten acres. There is no 

 real competitive bidding, all sales for good, bad and indifferent lands being for twenty- 

 five cents an acre, the minimum price allowed by law. It is claimed that the theory 

 is to give the present occupant a better title and insure them quiet and peaceable 

 possession. It would seem, if this is the only end to be served, that it could be done 

 by act of the Legislature at much less expense to the State and less annoyance and 

 uncertainty to the occupant and owners of the equities therein. He that as it may, 

 the funds of this Commission will not admit of further wholesale depletion in this 

 direction unless we close some of our hatcheries and withdraw a large part of our pro- 

 tectors from the forests. It is expected that when the amount of shortages found by 

 our expert accountant have been returned to the Comptroller and the Commission, 

 that it will help the condition of our finances somewhat, unless the Comptroller holds 

 that moneys so returned must be credited to the general State fund. We find that 

 several judgments for costs have been entered against the State and certified to us for 

 payment, because of indifference of attorneys in charge, growing out of neglect to 

 answer their communications or settle their bills, and many others are threatening to 

 let cases go by default if some attention is not paid to their claims for services and 

 disbursements. 



These complications become very serious for this Commission, especially in view 

 of the fact, as reported by this Committee at your last meeting, that of the $92,750.82 

 appropriated May 10, 1895, for the maintenance and work of the Commission for the 

 fiscal year ending October 31, 1895, we had, outside of funds specially appropriated 

 for the purchase of lands, but $34,019.31 left October 31st, about one-fifth of which 

 is required at once to liquidate debts incurred by ourselves without considering the 

 obligations contracted by our predecessors. We believe that the Board should decide 



