18 SEVENTH REPORT OF THE SHELL FISH COMMISSIONERS 
“past year, besides what the same men have drawn from the 
“State as Fish Commissioners.” This language is obviously de- 
signed to convey the idea that the Shell Fish Commissioners have 
pocketed over four thousand dollars apiece for their services and 
expenses, besides what “the same men” had drawn as Fish Com- 
missioners! The author of the reasons was careful not to specify 
the amount drawn as Fish Commissioners, because it is so insig- 
nificant that, if mentioned, it would have added no weight to his 
statement. As Fish Commissioners, each one is limited to two 
hundred dollars for his pay and expenses per year! 
Here is the whole cash account of the Shell Fish Commission- 
ers with the State from the beginning: 
Receipts. Office Expenses. pa eee 
To Nov., 1881 (7 mos.) - $8,369 69 Paid $3,581 84 $1,162 14 
f 1882 (1 year) eo AO 20) 8 TOL Bgl 12 3,613 60 
BS 1883 i - 20,516 13 Pi fekaerual(oyy el BRO TAG 
ot sey, - 13,732 84 “8,350 49 5,065 79 
June, 1885(7mos.), - 6,568 72 5.080008 3.37 7 O 
° 1886 (i year), - 9,658 03 F253) Os 6,000 00 
Total receipts, -  - $77,331 67 $44,577 35  ~- $23,096 16 
Total expenses and pay, 67,673 51 23,096 16 
Surplus, - = - $0,658 16 $67,673 51 Ttl. ex. and pay. 
N. B.—The accounts for the current year ending June, 1887, are not yet 
made up, but it is believed that the balance of receipts over payments will in- 
crease this surplus. 
Whole period of 5 years and 2 months—Comm. pay and exp., $23,096 16 
Three Commissioners—average per year, = = = - 4,470 23 
One Commissioner—average per year, - - - - - 1,490 08 
and of this more than one-third is for travel and other expenses. 
Now, when the various duties above specified were put upon 
the Commission by the State, it was not contemplated that the 
expense of this work should be paid out of any tax raised upon 
the grounds—indeed, no tax had then been provided for. It was 
believed that the proceeds of the sale of grounds would be used 
for this expense. ‘The State did not expect the work would be 
done for nothing, nor did it intend to speculate in the grounds. 
It put prices so low that the poorest could buy them. The State 
hoped thereby to encourage the industry, and the money thus 
obtained was to be expended in the work of the Commission, 
which was to establish order and system where the utmost con- 
fusion and uncertainty had prevailed. And what has been the 
