12 REPORT OF THE SHELL-FISH COMMISSIONERS 
of merely human beings, that all should be satisfied with the 
work of those designated by law to fix the value of their property 
for the purposes of taxation. The amount of taxes collected 
during the year, and sent to the Treasurer of the State, was 
$6,776 48. 
a 
ENGINEER. 
Section 7 of the new law provides that not more than two 
hundred dollars shall be paid in any one year for the services of 
an engineer, when required by the State. Of course the inten- 
tion of this section is that all expenses pertaining to the purchase 
and survey of oyster designations shall be paid by the parties 
applying for them, and this is just and proper. But at the 
present time the search for desirable areas for oyster culture is 
very keen, and when a prospector finds a favorable location, he 
hastens to the office of the Shell-fish Commissioners to consult 
their maps and ask a great many questions, which can only be 
answered by an engineer thoroughly familiar with the business. 
At nearly every meeting of the Shell-fish Commissioners, 
questions arise which demand consultation with the engineer, 
and a reference to some one of the maps. Under these circum- 
stances the Commissioners alone require the presence of an 
engineer during a greater number of days than he can be paid 
for under the law. 
But in addition to that, many of the oyster-growers claim 
that they are entitled to some consideration. They have a cap- 
ital of more than $3,000,000 invested, and pay to the State, in 
taxes and in other ways, an average for the last two years of 
more than $3,000 per annum over and above the entire expenses 
of the commission, including the pay and expenses of the Com- 
missioners. They feel that they should have the privilege, at 
suitable times, not only of consulting the maps of the office, but 
also that they should be able to meet the engineer in charge of 
the maps, and avail themselves of his knowledge and advice, 
and that without expense to themselves. If, after consultation with 
him, they conclude to make an application for some of the 
ground which the State has to sell, they are willing to pay the nec- 
essary expenses of locating and surveying. Your Commissioners 
