Farming out. The high cost of electron microscopes and the specialized knowledge needed to operate them generated a questionable, even damnable development: the "farming out" of investigations to central laboratories or institutions carrying out examinations for a fee. Anything might go wrong during this procedure. It might be acceptable if phage researchers themselves have access to the electron microscope used or the technician that carries our investigations, is properly qualified or backed by an experienced phage researcher. Unfortunately, this seems to be rarely the case and has resulted in situations when examinations are performed by incompetents without instructions or personal interest in the subject, or simply unused to magnifications above 200.000¾. The investigating laboratories sometimes charge outlandish fees for essentially worthless data. This should be resisted. We propose fees of $50 US for access to an electron microscope and $75 US for an investigation aided by a technician or a scientist.