62 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
The charges so made, having been brought to the attention of the Commissioner, 
he very promptly asked an investigation, 
The maladministration charged included among other things: 
(a) Entire lack of system and proper discipline in every department of 
the Commission, resulting in a greatly increased and useless expenditure of 
money. 
(b) That the Commissioner and other officials, taking advantage of their 
positions, at the expense of the Government used the boats and fish-hatehery 
stations of the Commission as a means of private enjoyment for themselves 
and friends. 
(c) That the employés of the Commission were addicted to the use of in- 
toxicating liquors to the extent of neglecting their duties and disgracing 
the service. 
(d) That falsified statements of numbers of fish planted in the various 
lakes and rivers of the country had been prepared under the direction of 
the Commissioner, with the deliberate purpose in view of using the same 
before the committees of Congress in order to influence more liberal appro- 
priations than might otherwise be made. 
(e) That political considerations were governing the matter of appoint- 
ments within the Commission. 
(f) That the Commissioner was guilty of nepotism. 
(g) That under the present régime the rule was, increased appropriations 
and an extravagant expenditure of money in all branches of the work of 
the Commission; among other things an unwarranted increase in the sal- 
aries of certain fayored employés. 
(h) That the time of certain employés was being taken up, and material 
belonging to the Government used, in perfecting certain patents solely for 
the personal benefit of the Commissioner. 
(i) That the present force of clerks and assistants in the Commission had 
been very greatly increased, with a corresponding expenditure of money, 
while the practical and scientific results do not compare favorably with 
those attained under Prof. Baird. 
The charges summed up can be best expressed in three words, viz, inefficiency, ex- 
travagance, dishonesty. 
Your committee at its first meeting after the passage of the resolution of investi- 
gation appointed a subcommittee, consisting of its chairman and Senators Blodgett 
and Squire, to investigate the affairs of the Fish Commission in respect to the 
charges referred to. Every person whose name was known to the committee as being 
in any way connected with the publication or dissemination of the said charges was 
notified that the committee would give him an opportunity to be heard and would 
also be glad to have him submit the names of any persons whom he desired subpee- 
naed; also that any material and relevant interrogatories which he might desire to 
have propounded to witnesses would be so propounded upon filing the same in writ- 
ing with the clerk of the committee. 
The hearings of the subcommittee were not public; neither were those who stood 
in the light of prosecuting the charges nor any member of the Fish Commission per- 
mitted to be present or represented by attorney. 
In all, 63 witnesses were sworn and examined, a very great majority of whom 
were subpemnaed at the special instance of the persons appearing to have charge of 
the case against the Fish Commission. In every instance the committee accepted 
all the interrogatories filed, and although many were of doubtful relevancy, they 
were propounded to the witnesses designated, and also upon request of the same 
individuals subpeenas were issued for every person whose name was furnished where 
it was in the least made to appear that the testimony of such persons would be at 
