Report of the Treasurer of the H. U. B. C.

DEAR SIRS :-In accordance with my intention announced at the last meeting of the Harvard Boat Club, I enclose, for publication, my accounts as treasurer of the Harvard Boat Club, for the year 1883-1884. At the time of the boat club meeting all the data for a full account had not been received, so that the enclosed account is correct up to the date at which the books were balanced. However, some outstanding bills may be presented later, as was the case last year. The price of the shell from Waters, $410.50, and a bill of $77 for tools stolen from the boat house, both add unusually to the excess of liabilities over assets. The excess is consequently greater than that of last year. Another reason for this is the fact that the Hasty Pudding Club gave a smaller sum to the boat club, than that given the year before, and that the PI Eta theatricals, which last year yielded $278, were not given at all. It is greatly to be pitied that such a debt should hang over the boat club, which is our leading athletic interest. At Yale, where the yearly expenses are equal to ours, the finances of the boat club are in a flourishing state. I have made inquiries and I find that the trouble over raising and collecting subscriptions, and all talk against "subscription friends," is almost unknown. Every Yale man is willing to subscribe his last penny for the sake of beating Harvard at New London, and if we wish to see them disappointed we must be more generous in supporting our crew. Out of 1500 men, composing Harvard University, only 438 subscribed to the crew's support Blank postal cards were sent to mostly every undergraduate last spring, soliciting subscriptions but two-thirds of these were never returned. One man returned three, without his name upon them, as a joke. If every man would come forward and subscribe, if not $5, at least $2, $1 or even 50 cents, no fault could be found. The subscription table enclosed will afford information as to the number and the distribution of subscriptions, so I will not enroach further upon your space. Permit me through your columns to thank Messrs. Minot and W. R. Wilson, '86, who so kindly assisted me last year; also, my particular thanks are due to Mr. Parker, '86, who, for two months during the treasurer's absence from Cambridge, had entire charge of the accounts, and I am especially obliged to Mr. Sexton, for his kind assistance and advice explaining the intricacies of the books. Apologizing for trespassing upon your space.

I remain,

Very respectively yours,

A. T. FRENCH, Treas. H. U. B. C.