Royal offices were a form of property expected to produce income every time they changed hands. Treasury offices became venal for the Indies in the 1630s; other offices already being sold were ecclesiastical benefices and military patents, which at least once included the Florida captaincy general. In many of its overseas realms the crown sold municipal offices as well, but not in Florida. When a royal cedula dated 1629 arrived asking for a list of the offices it might be possible to fill in that land, Accountant Juan de Cueva responded that there were no new settlements; the only town of Spaniards was the one at the presidio. [Note 38: Juan de Cueva report on offices 1/9/1631 in Gov. Rodriguez Villegas 12/27/1630] One office frequently sold or farmed out in the Indies was that of tribute collector (corregidor de indios). For reasons that will be seen, this office did not exist in Florida. The St. Augustine treasury received revenue from the auction of lesser posts such as public and governmental notary or toll collector on the Salamototo ferry, but this income was inconsequential and almost certainly never reached the crown. [Note 39: Cedula to Gov. Torres y Ayala 1/24/1696] (Bushnell KC)