66 THE FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



tion would Lave been vastly hindered, if not altogether killed, by tliieves and malcontents, so far as New Haven 

 harbor is concerned. Elsewhere, under different conditions, no such necessity exists as yet, in order to be able to 

 prosecute the artificial raising. Instantly upon the passage of this act, there was a rush by everybody for the 

 possession of lots in all parts of the Quiuepiac and West rivers. The oyster-committee of the" towns decided that 

 each owner of land abutting on the river should possess the right to the bottom opposite his land for 100 feet from 

 high-water mark. This was a concession to i)opular feeling, though that opinion had no foundation in law what- 

 ever, since the title to riparian real estate in this state terminates at the high-water tide limit. Between these 

 boundaries, or "wharf lines", tracts equal in width to each mau's water front, and extending to the channel, were 

 allotted to the land owners at $10 to $15 an acre ; but the majority of them were not more than half an acre in 

 extent. Lucky receivers of these river-grants at once found themselves able to sell for from $25 to $50, and before 

 long there was brisk demand and little sale, at prices ranging from $100 to $150. The deep-water men found this 

 river property of great use as a nursery for seed, and as a place to make temporary deposits of surplus stock, etc. 

 The Quiuepiac thus began to bristle with boundary stakes, much as the harbor had done for many j-ears pi'evious, 

 and many of these river-lots are now valued at more than $500. 



In 1877 a very fall set was obtained everywhere in the river and harbor ; in 1878, however, there was almost a 

 total dearth 5 but 1879 again saw a ijartial set. 



28. PKESENT CONDITION OF OYSTER-CULTURE IN THE VICINITY OF NEW HAVEN. 



Orange or West Haven. — Situated on the western shore, the township of Orange (West Haven) owns the 

 western half of the harbor of New Haven. These shores have always been populous with oysters, which were 

 raked as public property. If any attempts at cultivation were made until within a few years, they were desultory 

 and of small account. When the general oyster-statutes were passed. Orange at once acted under them, but 

 delegated to its selectmen the powers of an oyster-committee instead of erecting a second board, as was done in all 

 the other towns. This arrangement has been found to work very well. The first designation was made in April, 

 ISGl, and all the suitable ground in West river and in the harbor was soon set apart, amounting to about 45 acres. 

 Mr. Samuel Smith, chairman of the selectmen, tells me that nothing was charged for this ground, but that it was 

 put under taxation, and now pays on valuations running from $50 to $500. When, four years ago, the experiment of 

 deep-water cultivation was begun, Orange issued desiguations, almost wholly to citizens of other towns, for about 

 2,450 acres, at $1 an acre. It is impossible to come nearer than this to the town's revenue from its oyster-lots, 

 since no separate account is published by the treasurer. The deep-water area is taxed at a merely nominal rate at 

 present. 



Only two producers of any consequence now reside in West Haven. The small allotments in West river which 

 they possess, are nearly ruined by the drifting of sediment, and the total product of the river last year would hardly 

 exceed 500 bushels. One i)lanter told me he had had 12 acres in one lot in the harbor spoiled by becoming 

 covered with mud. 



New Haven.— Between Orange and East Haven lies New Haven, priding herself upon her harbor. She had 

 begun to set apart oyster-planting ground for the use of her citizens. Before long, however, it was claimed that 

 she was allotting spaces of bottom over which she had no jurisdiction. This brought on suits at law and aroused 

 inquiry. The forgotten fact was then brought to light, that in 1803 a joint commission (of which Noah Webster, 

 the lexicographer, was a member) determined the boundary between New Haven and East Haven to be, in general 

 terms, the ship-channel down the Quinei)iac and down the harbor. This was ratified by the general assembly. A 

 few years later some disputes caused the appointment of a commission to settle upon the boundary between New 

 Haven and Orange. This was reported to be the middle of West river, and thence eastward to the ship-channel 

 in the harbor. It seems to have been the intention of this commission that this line should intersect and terminate 

 at the East Haven line, but by some error this was not quite done. The i-ccommendations of this commission were 

 adopted by the legislature and decreed to be the boundary between the two towns. This left to New Haven only 

 the waters just about her wharves and a very narrow, wedge-shaped strip down the channel. When, by later laws, 

 it was decided what of the deeper ground of the sound should be " designated " by East Haven and Orange, 

 respectively. New Haven was allowed a strip 1,500 feet wide, running southward into the sound from a line drawn 

 from the old light-house to Savin rock. 



Although these boundaries were settled nearly a century ago, the New Haven oyster-committee not long ago 

 designated ground in Orange waters, where they had no right to. Unscrupulous persons at once took possession, 

 and in some cases refused to yield to the legal owners deriving their desiguations jiroperly. Hence expensive suits 

 and much personal animosity has arisen. Many lessees, however, learning their mistake in time, took out new 

 deeds from the rightful authorities, and so saved themselves. But this was done at additional expense, for New 

 Haven had never charged anything for her privileges. 



