a long distance to the place of work, and (after the field work is ended) moving the plant back to its place of storage and wharfage, and paying for its care during a year of idleness while waiting for the next ap propriation. Were plant to have been hired from private parties they would have made the United States pay these expenses either directly or under the guise of rent or contract price. Actual dredging in the field in this particular case cost only about 10 cents per yard under the last appropriation for hard-sand excavation and dumpage; but the rest of the funds have been eaten up by the other matters above alluded to, which would all have been avoided had the total of appropriations been made by Congress in a single lump sum.

In order to complete the unfinished work it will cost about $300 for office work of the next two years; about $1,000 to store, repair, move, and return plant, and about $1,200 to do the remaining dredging, making a total of $2,500 in addition to the small balance still remaining on hand.

Operations contemplated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894.-It is proposed to apply the balance on hand and further appropriations to the completion of the project.

Edgartown is in the Edgartown collection district and is a port of entry. The amount of revenue collected there during the last calendar year was $383.98; the nearest light-house is the Edgartown Light; the nearest fortification is the fort at Clark Point, New Bedford, Mass.

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893.

2,500.00

232.39

126.54

105.85

2,500.00

COMMERCIAL STATISTICS.

The commerce arriving and leaving Edgartown, Marthas Vineyard, by water during calendar year ending December 31, 1892, is estimated as follows (based mainly upon reports received from Mr. C. H. Marchant, collector of customs, Edgartown, Mass.):

MIDDLE GROUND SHOAL

Gain over last year, about 4,000 tons, or $160,000; transportation lines established during the year, none.

The passage of vessels through this waterway is estimated as follows (each entrance and departure together being counted as one passage):

Vineyard Haven is a deep indentation in the northern shore of the island of Marthas Vineyard, on the southern side of Vineyard Sound. It is triangular in form and faces the northeast. The width of the mouth of the harbor, or the distance between the points of land on the east and west sides of the entrance known as East Chop and West Chop, is about 14 miles; and from a line connecting the chops to the narrow southerly end of the harbor, at which is situated the town of Vineyard Haven, the distance is about 13 miles. the harbor between the shore lines is about 949 657 acres have a depth of not less than 15 feet. of the tide is 1.7 feet.

The entire area of acres, of which some The mean rise and fall

Original condition.-At the mouth of the harbor the wearing away of the chops by the action of the waves in storms had been noted for many years. The former site of a light-house on West Chop had entirely disappeared. The débris was carried by the current into the harbor, where it formed shoals, which were gradually impairing the anchorage capacity, especially in the upper part or the harbor. (For map of harbor see p. 580 of Annual Report of 1887.)

Plan of improvement.-The present approved project, that of 1887, as modified in 1889, provides for the protection of the "chops" (or headlands) from erosion, and the intervening harbor from being filled by the eroded material; the whole to be done by means of stone sea walls and jetties, to be built along the beach in front of the bluffs at both headlands, all at a total cost estimated in 1882 at $60,000.

A description of the work may be found at p. 594, Annual Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1882, p. 577 of 1887, and p. 612 of 1889.

Appropriations.-Upon the present project appropriations have been made as follows: 1888, $25,000; 1890, $10,000; 1892, $7,500. Total up to June 30, 1893, $42,500.

Amount expended and results to June 30, 1892.-The total amount expended on the present project (including $44.69 outstanding liabilities) up to June 30, 1892, was $34,948.72, by which there had been built a sea wall of 450 feet length, and a jetty of 50 feet length, at the East Chop; and a sea wall of 400 feet length, 3 jetties of from 80 to 296 feet length, a wharf, and a short breakwater of 60 feet length, at the West Chop; completing about half the needed work.

Operations during the past fiscal year.-Value of United States plant, $3,800. Including $219.05 of outstanding liabilities, the expenses of the year were $1,045.17.

During the year a project has been submitted and approved for work under the new appropriations, and contract for stone work entered into with James V. Luce, of Niantic, Conn., at $2.40 per ton of 2,000 pounds, under date of the 4th of February, approved by the Chief of Engineers March 6, 1893; work to be commenced 1st of May, and to be completed by 1st of July, 1893. A minor survey has been made to serve as basis for the coming season's work. The contractor has reached the place of work but has not yet placed any stone on the sea walls. This work was in the local charge of Mr. Edward Parrish as superintendent.

Work required to complete the existing project.-The work required to complete the existing project is the completion of these systems of jetties and sea walls at both chops.

Operations contemplated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1894.—It is proposed to apply the balance on hand and the funds asked for to continue the work of protection, mainly at the East Chop.

Vineyard Haven is in the Edgartown collection district. Edgartown is the nearest port of entry. The amount of revenue collected at Edgartown in the last calendar year was $383.98. The nearest light-houses are those on East and West Chops. The nearest fortification is the fort at Clark Point, New Bedford, Mass.

July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities...

July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts...

$219.05 5,000.00

5, 219.05

1,506. 11

July 1, 1893, balance available.....

Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30,1895
Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and
harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893.

17, 500.00 17,500.00

Abstract of proposals opened January 9, 1873, at Newport, R. I., by Capt. W. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers, for stone delivered in the sea wall at East and West Chops, Vineyard Haven.