diff --git a/include/commodity.h b/include/commodity.h
index 5fb31a4e..5826d88c 100644
--- a/include/commodity.h
+++ b/include/commodity.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ struct comstr {
     short ef_type;
     natid com_owner;
     short com_uid;
-    char com_type;
+    int com_type;
     int com_amount;
     float com_price;
     int com_maxbidder;
diff --git a/include/prototypes.h b/include/prototypes.h
index da28cf21..ea92ef95 100644
--- a/include/prototypes.h
+++ b/include/prototypes.h
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ extern int check_market(void);
 extern void set_coastal(struct sctstr *);
 extern int sendmessage(struct natstr *, struct natstr *, char *, int);
 extern void gift(int, int, s_char *, int, s_char *);
-extern int display_mark(int what);
+extern int display_mark(int, int);
 extern int want_to_abandon(struct sctstr *, int, int, struct lndstr *);
 extern int would_abandon(struct sctstr *, int, int, struct lndstr *);
 extern int nav_map(int, int, int);
diff --git a/include/trade.h b/include/trade.h
index d2ab6d21..9f4bab77 100644
--- a/include/trade.h
+++ b/include/trade.h
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@ extern int trade_desc(struct trdstr *, union trdgenstr *);
 extern int trade_getitem(struct trdstr *, union trdgenstr *);
 extern long get_couval(int);
 extern long get_outstand(int);
-extern struct ichrstr *whichitem(char);
 
 #define gettrade(n, p) \
 	ef_read(EF_TRADE, n, (caddr_t)p)
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/buy.c b/src/lib/commands/buy.c
index 4e67adaf..5e1f0104 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/buy.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/buy.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ buy(void)
     ip = whatitem(player->argp[1], "Commodity you want to buy: ");
     if (!ip)
 	return RET_SYN;
-    display_mark(ip->i_mnem);
+    display_mark(ip->i_vtype, 0);
     pr("\n");
     p = getstarg(player->argp[2], "Which lot are you bidding on: ", buf);
     if (p == 0)
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ buy(void)
 	pr("Invalid lot number.\n");
 	return RET_OK;
     }
-    if (comm.com_type != ip->i_mnem) {
+    if (comm.com_type != ip->i_vtype) {
 	pr("That lot is not of the type you specified.\n");
 	return RET_OK;
     }
@@ -162,7 +162,6 @@ buy(void)
 	pr("That sector is under construction.\n");
 	return RET_FAIL;
     }
-    ip = whichitem(comm.com_type);
     n = sect.sct_item[ip->i_vtype];
     qty = comm.com_amount;
     if (qty + n > ITEM_MAX) {
@@ -212,7 +211,6 @@ check_market(void)
 {
     struct comstr comm;
     struct sctstr *sect;
-    struct ichrstr *ip;
     struct natstr *natp;
     int m;
     int n;
@@ -239,9 +237,10 @@ check_market(void)
 	    tleft = 0;
 	if (tleft > 0.0)
 	    continue;
-	ip = whichitem(comm.com_type);
+	if (CANT_HAPPEN((unsigned)comm.com_type > I_MAX))
+	    continue;
 	sect = getsectp(comm.com_x, comm.com_y);
-	m = sect->sct_item[ip->i_vtype];
+	m = sect->sct_item[comm.com_type];
 
 	monleft = 0;
 
@@ -342,16 +341,16 @@ check_market(void)
 	       "Sale #%d fell through.  Goods remain on the market.\n", n);
 	    comm.com_maxbidder = comm.com_owner;
 	} else {
-	    sect->sct_item[ip->i_vtype] = m + comm.com_amount;
+	    sect->sct_item[comm.com_type] = m + comm.com_amount;
 	    putsect(sect);
 	    nreport(comm.com_owner, N_MAKE_SALE, comm.com_maxbidder, 1);
-	    wu(0, comm.com_owner, "%s bought %d %c's from you for $%.2f\n",
+	    wu(0, comm.com_owner, "%s bought %d %s from you for $%.2f\n",
 	       cname(comm.com_maxbidder), comm.com_amount,
-	       comm.com_type, gain);
+	       ichr[comm.com_type].i_name, gain);
 	    wu(0, comm.com_maxbidder,
-	       "You just bought %d %c's from %s for $%.2f\n",
-	       comm.com_amount, comm.com_type, cname(comm.com_owner),
-	       gain * buytax);
+	       "You just bought %d %s from %s for $%.2f\n",
+	       comm.com_amount, ichr[comm.com_type].i_name,
+	       cname(comm.com_owner), gain * buytax);
 	    natp = getnatp(comm.com_owner);
 	    /* Make sure we subtract the amount that came out in a loan */
 	    natp->nat_money += (gain - subleft);
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/mark.c b/src/lib/commands/mark.c
index 8b7af97c..6cf75e4c 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/mark.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/mark.c
@@ -60,15 +60,15 @@ mark(void)
 	if (!p)
 	    return RET_SYN;
 	if (!strcmp(p, "all"))
-	    return display_mark(0);
+	    return display_mark(I_NONE, 0);
 	else {
 	    ip = item_by_name(p);
 	    if (!ip)
 		return RET_SYN;
-	    return display_mark(ip->i_mnem);
+	    return display_mark(ip->i_vtype, 0);
 	}
     }
-    return display_mark(-1);
+    return display_mark(I_NONE, 1);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -85,20 +85,19 @@ pr_mark(struct comstr *comm)
        comm->com_uid,
        comm->com_price,
        comm->com_maxbidder,
-       tleft, comm->com_owner, comm->com_type, comm->com_amount);
+       tleft, comm->com_owner, ichr[comm->com_type].i_mnem, comm->com_amount);
     if (comm->com_owner == player->cnum || player->god)
 	pr("%s", xyas(comm->sell_x, comm->sell_y, player->cnum));
     pr("\n");
 }
 
 int
-display_mark(int what)
+display_mark(int only_itype, int only_cheapest)
 {
     struct comstr comm;
     struct comstr comm2;
     int sellers = 0;
     int cnt = 0;
-    struct ichrstr *ip;
     int cheapest_items[I_MAX + 1];
     int i;
 
@@ -111,27 +110,24 @@ display_mark(int what)
     pr(" lot  high bid/unit  by  time left  owner  item  amount  sector\n");
     pr(" ---  -------------  --  ---------  -----  ----  ------  ------\n");
 
-    if (what == -1) {
-	/* Ok, just printing the lowest of all of them */
+    if (only_cheapest) {
 	for (i = 0; i < I_MAX + 1; i++)
 	    cheapest_items[i] = -1;
 	for (sellers = 0; getcomm(sellers, &comm); sellers++) {
 	    if (comm.com_owner == 0)
 		continue;
-	    for (i = 0, ip = &ichr[0]; ip && ip->i_mnem; ip++, i++)
-		if (ip->i_mnem == comm.com_type)
-		    break;
-	    if (!ip->i_mnem)
+	    if (CANT_HAPPEN((unsigned)comm.com_type > I_MAX))
 		continue;
-	    if (cheapest_items[i] != -1) {
-		getcomm(cheapest_items[i], &comm2);
+	    if (cheapest_items[comm.com_type] != -1) {
+		getcomm(cheapest_items[comm.com_type], &comm2);
 		if (comm.com_price < comm2.com_price) {
-		    cheapest_items[i] = sellers;
+		    cheapest_items[comm.com_type] = sellers;
 		}
 	    } else {
-		cheapest_items[i] = sellers;
+		cheapest_items[comm.com_type] = sellers;
 	    }
 	}
+	CANT_HAPPEN(only_itype != I_NONE); /* not implemented */
 	for (i = 0; i < I_MAX + 1; i++) {
 	    if (cheapest_items[i] == -1)
 		continue;
@@ -140,11 +136,10 @@ display_mark(int what)
 	    pr_mark(&comm);
 	}
     } else {
-	/* Ok, print them all, or all of this type */
 	for (sellers = 0; getcomm(sellers, &comm); sellers++) {
 	    if (comm.com_owner == 0)
 		continue;
-	    if (what && comm.com_type != what)
+	    if (only_itype != I_NONE && comm.com_type != only_itype)
 		continue;
 	    cnt = 1;
 	    pr_mark(&comm);
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/rese.c b/src/lib/commands/rese.c
index b76ae7b7..90e603a6 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/rese.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/rese.c
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ rese(void)
 {
     struct comstr comm;
     struct sctstr sect;
-    struct ichrstr *ix;
     int number_set;
     int m;
     char *p;
@@ -117,18 +116,19 @@ rese(void)
 	    pr("The destination sector must be at least 60%% efficient.\n");
 	    return RET_OK;
 	}
-	ix = whichitem(comm.com_type);
-	sect.sct_x = comm.sell_x;
-	sect.sct_y = comm.sell_y;
-	m = sect.sct_item[ix->i_vtype];
+	if (CANT_HAPPEN((unsigned)comm.com_type > I_MAX)) {
+	    pr("The goods have been eaten by a grue.");
+	    return RET_OK;
+	}
+	m = sect.sct_item[comm.com_type];
 	m = m + comm.com_amount;
 	if (m > ITEM_MAX)
 	    m = ITEM_MAX;
-	sect.sct_item[ix->i_vtype] = m;
+	sect.sct_item[comm.com_type] = m;
 	putsect(&sect);
 	comm.com_owner = 0;
 	putcomm(number_set, &comm);
-	pr("The goods have been returned to your trading post\n");
+	pr("The goods have been returned to your trading post.\n");
 	return RET_OK;
     }
     if (price >= comm.com_price) {
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/sell.c b/src/lib/commands/sell.c
index e77715bf..572e76fa 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/sell.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/sell.c
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@ sell(void)
     int com;
     char *p;
     float price;
-    char cc;
     time_t now;
     int ii = 0;
     coord x, y;
@@ -85,8 +84,7 @@ sell(void)
     }
     check_market();
     check_trade();
-    if ((ip =
-	 whatitem(player->argp[1], "Commodity you want to sell: ")) == 0)
+    if (!(ip = whatitem(player->argp[1], "Commodity you want to sell: ")))
 	return RET_SYN;
     if (ip->i_sell == 0) {
 	pr("You can't sell %s\n", ip->i_name);
@@ -165,7 +163,6 @@ sell(void)
     pr("Sold %d %s at %s (%d left)\n", com, ip->i_name,
        xyas(sect.sct_x, sect.sct_y, player->cnum), amt);
     sect.sct_item[ip->i_vtype] = amt;
-    cc = ip->i_mnem;
     putsect(&sect);
     if (totalcom > 0) {
 	for (ii = 0; getcomm(ii, &comm); ii++) {
@@ -175,7 +172,7 @@ sell(void)
 	if (getcomm(ii, &comm) == 0)
 	    ef_extend(EF_COMM, 1);
 	(void)time(&now);
-	comm.com_type = ip->i_mnem;
+	comm.com_type = ip->i_vtype;
 	comm.com_owner = player->cnum;
 	comm.com_price = price;
 	comm.com_maxbidder = player->cnum;
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/trdsub.c b/src/lib/subs/trdsub.c
index 8512fc03..e9990a43 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/trdsub.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/trdsub.c
@@ -282,17 +282,3 @@ get_outstand(int cnum)
     }
     return loantot;
 }
-
-struct ichrstr *
-whichitem(char p)
-{
-    register int i;
-
-    if (p == 0)
-	return 0;
-    for (i = 1; ichr[i].i_mnem != 0; i++)
-	if (p == ichr[i].i_mnem)
-	    return (struct ichrstr *)(&ichr[i]);
-    pr("Unrecognized item \"%c\"\n", p);
-    return 0;
-}