16 SEVENTH REPORT OF THE SHELL FISH COMMISSIONERS 
expenses as fast as they could. The moment the field work was 
finished they dismissed the gentlemen who were chiefly engaged 
in it, and this alone will save annually at least four thousand dol- — 
lars, of which twenty-nine hundred were salaries. 
Last year the Commissioners reduced their estimates of ex- 
pense, and this year they have asked for a still smaller sum. 
They have but two employés—an engineer to aid in the mapping, 
and the clerk, who has all the records, designations, and taxes to 
attend to. Indeed, the Commissioners look to an early day when 
their great work will be finished. Then the Commission can be 
managed at a much less cost. But, until that time comes, the 
Commissioners respectfully submit that they should not be inter- 
rupted in their work; and the most unwise act of all would be to 
put its completion into the hands of one man. ‘There are many 
intricate questions involved in this final mapping—dquestions that 
affect the title, the boundary, the extent, and the locality of every 
lot; and, aside from all questions of capacity and experience, for 
such important work surely there is safety in a multitude of coun- 
selors. Zhree Commissioners are not so readily swayed as one 
might be. In a word, it is not for the best interests of honest 
oyster growers that the Commission should be left in the control 
of one man. 
The following table will show the expenses of the Engineer 
Department of the Shell Fishery Commission for five years and 
nine months, from May 1, 1881, to February 1, 1887. Every item 
to January 1, 1887, will be found fully vouched for at the office 
of the State Comptroller. The vouchers for the month of Janu- 
ary are at the Commissioners’ office, not yet filed with the Comp- 
troller: 
Totals. 
I. United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, - - $2,855 98 
7, Spilleyates, | = - - - - - - - 20,360 48 
3. Pay of men not under salary, = - - - =, LORS 
4. Steamboat hire, - - - - - - - 758 00 
5. Traveling expenses—field party, - - - = 2 lO 
6. Signals—structure and repairs,  - - - - 1,059 89 
ra eum ber = - - - - - - 351 18 
8. Triangulation work, - - - - - - 1,963 99 
g. Office supplies, - - - - - - - g2I 62 
10. Tools and field supplies, — - - - - =) 5, 706532 
11. Ground rent for signals, = - - - - . II2 25 
12. Engineer’s traveling expense, = - - - 632 33 
ESyOstase, a= - = = 2 = = = 98 62 
