KISHKRIES, GAME AND FtJRESTS. 97 



During the year considerable publicity was given to the fact that this Commission, 

 at the very outset of its work, found itself much embarrassed by the confused condi- 

 tion of its affairs ; its inability at first to obtain possession of important books and 

 records relating to its finances ; that with the consent of the Comptroller an account- 

 ant had been employed to examine the accounts and copy all vouchers at the 

 Comptroller's office covering disbursements on account of this department ; that the 

 reports made to this Commission at various times as the examination progressed 

 showed that moneys appropriated for the use of this department had not been 

 properly expended, and that a shortage amounting to nearly $17,000 was found 

 to exist in the account of moneys received and disbursed by the former Secretary of 

 this Commission. 



This matter is fully explained in the following reports: 



November 2t, 1895. 

 SPECIAL Ri:i'ORT OF KXECUTIVK COMMITTEE IN MATTER OF BOOKS 

 AND VOUCHERS OF Till; FISH, GAME AND F0RF:ST COM- 

 MISSION, AND GENERAL CONDITION OF FINANCES. 



This Commission organized April 25, 1895, electing Etlward P. Doyle, who had 

 been Secretary to the F'ish Commission, which we succeeded, as Secretary. The 

 books of record, account-books, vouchers and official correspondence of the old Fish 

 Commission, excepting a portion of the papers which related to Game Protectors' 

 business, were at 53 Broadway, New V'ork, and in custody of Mr. Doyle as 

 Secretary. 



The Poorest Commission, which we also succeeded by the consolidation act known 

 as chapter 395, Laws of 1895, had its office in the Capitol, and upon our organization 

 this Commission occupied its old quarters. Its Secretary, before retiring, delivered 

 its books and other property, together with complete files of duplicate vouchers, 

 checks, check-books, stubs, official papers and correspondence. 



Upon the organization of this Commission we adopted rules for its government, 

 and divided the work of the Commission among five committees, assigning to each 

 of the five Commissioners the immediate responsibility of looking after the details of 

 the business of his department. As is well known to this Board, it was made the 

 duty of this Committee, in addition to the duties of auditing accounts and the special 

 care of the finances of the Commission, to examine all checks, books and accounts, 

 and report the result of such examination to the Board as often as once a month. 

 The outgoing Fish Commission made no statement of balances or formal transfer 

 of funds or property on hand ; an omission which was, perhaps, as much our fault as 

 theirs, as good business principles and common sense require that we should have 

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