REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. LV 



By direction of the Attorney- General of tlie United States, Hon. 

 George P. Sanger, United States district attorney for Massachusetts, 

 carefully investigated the titles of Messrs. Fay and Isaiah Spindel & 

 Co., and pronounced them to be valid. 



The property was then conveyed to two trustees, C. F. Ohoate, presi- 

 dent of the Old Colony Railroad Company, and Mr. J. Malcolm Forbes, 

 with the understanding, as stated, that whenever the work on the pier 

 was formally begun the shore line should be transferred to the United 

 States for the purposes of the U. S. Fish Commission, the value of 

 the ground thus acquired being not less than $15,000. The transfer 

 being made, the whole transaction was submitted again to the Attorney- 

 General and received his sanction. 



In the mean time, an appropriation of $25,000 had been made by 

 Congress to commence the construction of the necessary buildings, and 

 the plans of Mr. Eobert H. Slack, of Boston, being selected, a contract 

 was made with Mr. W. E. Penniman, of South Braintree, Mass., for 

 the erection of the first building. Ground was broken in August, 1883, 

 and by the end of the year the building was under roof. 



Concurrently with the work on the foundations of the quarters build- 

 ing, the dredging of the trenches for building the piers of the engineer 

 work was carried on, although, owing to the inefficiency of the dredge, 

 not much work was accomplished during the year. 



The series of buildings desired for the Commission was as follows : 



1. A building available for offices, and for storage of boats and other 

 property, and for hatching purposes ; also for quarters for the persons 

 occui)ied at the establishment during the several seasons of the yearj 

 this to include the necessary accommodations for the mess.* 



As there was no assurance that another appropriation would be made 

 by which to complete the series, this building was arranged to supply 

 all requirements on a limited scale, and the expenditure of the appro- 

 priation was limited to this building and the next. 



2. A reservoir with suitable pumping facilities, in which could be 

 stored salt and fresh water, and from which it could be distributed to 

 different parts of the establishment. 



3. A fish-hatching building, where the work offish propagation could 

 be conducted, and which should also furnish facilities for the collateral 

 operations authorized by Congress. 



4. A coal shed, where a supply of coal for the steamers of the com- 

 mission could be kept. 



5. A storehouse for keeping supplies. 



It was expected to utilize the pier and breakwater to be constructed 



* Heretofore, in order to meet the needs of tlie party working at the summer 

 station, a mess had been organized which was furnished accommodations in one of the 

 hired buildings. This was a self-supporting affair, managed by a caterer who paid 



all expenses for provisions and service from the mess fund, which was kept up by the 

 payment of |1 per day by each member. 



