COMPTROLLER OF THE TREASURY. ix

the sum of $100,000.00, which when done will make
a total reduction of the debt of the State, since the
30th day of Sept. 1883, of $733,888.84.

The application of the surplus revenues of the State
to the redemption of its matured obligations for invest-
ment in the General as well as its Special Sinking Funds,
(instead of going into the market as a purchaser,) will
save in these operations to the tax-payers over fifty
thousand dollars in premiums.

"Statement F" exhibits in detail the several stocks
and bonds in which the Sinking Funds and Free School
Fund are invested. It also shows the amounts of the
School Fund held for the several counties.

The Sinking Fund investments and cash amount to
the sum of $897,765.86, and the Free School Fund and
cash amount to $307,620.25.

DIVIDENDS.

The Dividends received from various stocks held by
the State are shown in detail in "Statement G" amount-
ing in the aggregate to the sum of $219,614.54.

OYSTER FUND.

The receipts on account of the Oyster Fund during the
fiscal year, as shown in "Statement H," were $66,840.02,
being $10,765.70 more than for the last fiscal year. This
difference can be accounted for by the issuing of nearly

to buy and carry oysters over the
waters of the State under the Act of 1884, chap. 518.

The disbursements on account of the fiscal year
amounted to $62,704.83. In this sum was an expendi-
ture of $10,296.81 for the building of two new schooners
for the service

The revenues for the fiscal year were sufficient to
meet the current expenditures and left the sum of
$4,135.19 remaining to the credit of the Oyster Fund,
leaving a balance on the 30th day of September, 1884, of
$244,081.59.

It is gratifying to note that the service has been greatly
improved, not only in the building and equipping of new