of Mr. Morrill. This department has been the means of starting quite a number of discharged boys with a trade to earn a living.

The Truant boys are larger in number than they were a year ago, January 1 the number being 69, against 95 for December 31. They are under the instruction of competent and faithful teachers. Progress in studies has been satisfactory, and discipline has been fully maintained without frequent or harsh punishments. There has been but little sickness and no death.

Our ice-crop last winter was very good. We housed 700 tons, which is all our ice-house will hold. We have furnished Rainsford's and Long Islands with what ice they require, which amounted to 130 tons. We have furnished one officer and an average of fifty men, every working day, to the Home for Paupers on Long Island, for the past eight months.

Received for fines and costs, $10,047.43, against $17,358.44 for 1890. The decrease is due to the new drunklaw. We have received no fines for drunkenness since July 1, as every one has a sentence.

Mechanics are employed at their several trades on all repairs, painting, carpentering, shoemaking, upholstering, blacksmithing, tin and wooden ware, wheelbarrows, etc. An average of 86 men are employed at stone-cutting. We have furnished to the city 37,065 feet of edgestones, 179 catch-basins, 444 corners, 3,960 paving-blocks. If our blacksmith-shop was enlarged, so as to run one or two more fires for sharpening tools, we might increase the men then to 140.

One hundred and twenty-five men and fifty women are running sewing-machines and making shirts, jumpers, overalls, coats, pants, vests, and all the institution work in the line of sewing.

Miss Sarah P. Burnham still looks after the interests of all discharged female prisoners. Mr. John E. McCarthy aids all male prisoners who require assistance, and provides country homes for boys having no friends to care for them. The boys' brass band in the House of Reformation has been discontinued, Professor Ripley, having had charge since the organization in 1874, being obliged to retire on account of poor health.

The annual examination of schools was held June 23, under the direction of Commissioners Otis K. Newell and Thomas H. Devlin.

The Rev. Mr. Toulmin, Chaplain of the Institutions and Superintendent of Schools, has attended to his duties faithfully. He has also paid weekly visits to Long and Rains

ford's Islands. The Rev. Father Broderick has conducted the Catholic services, celebrating mass every Sunday forenoon, and visits the island two or three times a week, looking after the spiritual welfare of those of his faith. Dr. Roche, the Resident Physician, has attended to his duties faithfully, and ably supported me as regards discipline. Dr. C. H. Cogswell, Port Physician, and his assistant, Dr. Rufus E. Darrah, have responded to all calls cheerfully. They have endeared themselves to us by their gentlemanly deportment and unassuming manner; also, we are indebted to them for the use of the quarantine steamboat "Vigilant," which is placed at our disposal at any and all times when occasion requires the use of a steamboat for special trips to the city and Long and Rainsford's Islands. My thanks are due to the Board of Health Commissioners, individually and collectively, for many favors received. Good health has prevailed. The farm stock is in good condition. We had an excellent crop of all kinds, except hay, which was only an average one. The following were the principal products:

Given to inmates on their discharge, 3,142 articles of clothing. There were made for our use and wear 1,825 pairs men's brogans, 492 pairs boys' brogans, 780 pairs women's shoes, 512 pairs women's slippers, 5,450 dresses, etc., 1,662 towels and rollers, 3,504 sheets, pillow-slips, and ticks, 41 table-cloths and shades, 3,023 pairs socks, 14019 dozen overalls, 414 dozen woollen shirts, 10711 dozen cotton shirts, 1,143 coats, 1,798 pairs pants, 1,138 vests, 1,925 pairs suspenders. We have also cut, made, and trimmed for the Home for Paupers 20 dozen woollen shirts, 6 dozen cotton shirts, 12 dozen woollen drawers, 260 coats, 392 vests, 335 pairs pants; for Charlestown Almshouse, 41 pairs pants, 26 vests, 512 dozen woollen shirts, and for Marcellastreet Home, 31 pairs pants.

12

Gas of a good quality, at an average cost of 56 cents per 1,000 cubic feet, has been made on the premises. I would again call your attention to the electric-light system, and also in regard to the laying of water-pipes from our ice pond to the main pipes, as we can keep 1,000,000 gallons of water there in storage in case of an emergency.

With a few exceptions the officers and matrons have performed their duties faithfully, and have ably supported me under trying circumstances, and are worthy of the respect and confidence placed in them. I would suggest and recommend that all superintendents have full power to discharge, and not suspend, officers; for, without full control of them, many are inclined to take advantage. Should one be successful and retain his position after being suspended, it breeds discontent among other officers. A superintendent's first duty is to have his officers under good discipline, if he wishes to retain it among the inmates.

Accompanying this are the reports of Dr. Thomas F. Roche, the Resident Physician, and the Rev. Mr. Toulmin, Chaplain and Superintendent of Schools, and the usual statistics of the several institutions.

In conclusion, gentlemen, permit me to thank you for favors received. To the Chairman, Dr. Thomas L. Jenks, I am especially indebted for his able support and advice freely given at all times, for his frequent visits and constant oversight of affairs here, a knowledge of which he has gained through years of experience. His familiarity with every detail has enabled him to understand all matters, minor and important, giving me the benefit of his excellent executive ability, and his prompt disposition of the same has relieved me of much responsibility, for which I desire to return my warmest thanks and unbounded gratitude.

Very respectfully,

JAMES R. GERRISH,

DEER ISLAND, Dec. 31, 1891.

Superintendent.

During the year there were admitted to this department. 9 males and 2 females from the House of Industry, who were too sick to leave upon expiration of sentence.

The above also includes one boy admitted during the year as a neglected child.

There have been 19 deaths during the year.

142

58

1

1

202

12

1

0 18

Remaining Dec. 31, 1891

One child of the above died during the year.

11

62

73

58

15

5,663

1.474

1,430

28

5