FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 1 23 



and protected. The second important bed is located off the mouth of Hempstead 

 Harbor, in Long Island Sound, and is almost entirely a bed of clani.'^, but few oysters 

 being found. This bed is also unfailing, and produces a large amount of shellfish 

 every year. The remaining beds of natural growth are of minor importance, but all of 

 them are carefully protected and preserved. A new bed has been recently discovered 

 ofT Horton's Point, and if report is true, is one of the most important yet found. As 

 I have heretofore stated, I shall arrange at once in the early spring to have it surveyed, 

 plotted and preserved. 



The third branch of my work — that of patrolling the oyster territory of the 

 State — for the purpose of preventing the pollution of the water, and to protect the 

 planted beds, has been in charge of Protector Hicks. This work I believe to 

 have been well done, and I am glad to state that not a single complaint as to the 

 condition oi the water has been received at this office. Oystermen generally have 

 expressed themselves as greatly pleased with the state of the waters, and oysters have 

 been abundant and of good flavor. In August, 1896, a naphtha launch was purchased 

 for the use of my department, and I directed the State Oyster Protector to patrol 

 daily the oyster territory of the State with it. This he did, with very satisfactory 

 results. The pollution of the waters ceased, and there has been but little disturbance 

 by the so-called oyster pirates of oysters legally planted. The region patrolled by 

 the Oyster Protector is a very large one, and requires constant vigilance. As I have 

 stated in the report, the Protector has not only to guard the planted beds, but also to 

 watch carefully the beds of oysters of natural growth, and see thai only legal devices 

 are used thereon for the purpose of taking or catching shellfish. 



The question as to what constitutes a bed of oysters of natural growth is a very 

 difficult one to determine, and I am glad to say that m\' decisions during the year 

 have been uniformly satisfactory,' aud no appeal has been taken. 



The Protectors were notified ~at the beginning of the season to enforce the law 

 against the possession and sale of small clams, and a large number of arrests have 

 been made and convictions had. A number of arrests of persons engaged in illegally 

 disturbing beds of oysters legally planted have also been made, and the result of all 

 such cases will be found in the report of the Chief Fish and Game Protector. 



For the work of surveying and mapping the eastern end of Long Island Sound, 

 I shall require an appropriation of $5,000, and I would ask that your honorable body 

 recommend that an item for that amount be placed in the supply bill. I would also 

 recommend that a commission be appointed by the State to locate and mark out by 

 proper monuments and buoys the boundar_\- line between the States of New York and 

 Connecticut, in lands under water, in Long Island Sound. This boundary line was 

 determined upon by Commissioners appointed from the respecti\'e States a number of 



