REPORT OF COiMMISSlONEK OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Ill 



parts of tlie region the pro[>ortiou under eultivation is relatively small, 

 and a part of the designated area is uiisuitcd to oyster-planting in its 

 present condition. Just what extent of bottom is now in actual use 

 it has been impossible to. ascertain. 



The waters of Long Island Sound within the territory of Connecticut 

 (the State line being midway of the sound) are divided into a number 

 of districts by straight lines extending due north and south, each dis- 

 trict being named after the adjacent township. In nearly all of the 

 western districts a certain area has been set aside as a dumping-ground 

 for the materials dredged up in the course of the improvements in the 

 neighboring harbors and river mouths. While these dumping-grounds 

 have well-defined boundaries, and it is intended that no refuse shall be 

 deposited elsewhere, they have come to have a rather unenviable repu- 

 tation among the oystermen, who consider them the source of many of 

 their troubles. 



- While the attention of the Fish Commission was first requested 

 toward the depredations of starfishes upon the oyster beds, so many 

 other questions have since been raised respecting the conditions of 

 the latter that it has become necessary to greatly increase the scope 

 of the inquiry and to give it rather the character of a general inves- 

 tigation. 



In 1889 the work was begun in the Norwalk district and was car- 

 ried thence eastward through the Westport, Fairfield, Bridgeport, 

 Stratford, and Milford districts, into Orange district. Dredgings were 

 made at frequent intervals, and sometimes under guidance of the 

 owners of oyster territory, who were able to indicate particular locali- 

 ties where starfishes were then abundant. The oyster traps were also 

 set under raan}^ different conditions, but always with practically nega- 

 tive results, as explained below. In 1890 the physical and chemical 

 examinations occupied nearly all the time from the beginning of the 

 season until the middle of September. Self-registering tide gauges 

 were first established at New London and I^ew Haven, Conn., and at 

 Willets Point, N. Y., after which observations upon the direction and 

 velocity of the currents were made at regular intervals between the 

 mouth of the Connecticut Eiver and East Eiver, by means of the Eitchie- 

 Haskell electrical meter. The chemical analyses of the water were con- 

 ducted in the same connection, and covered samples taken from every 

 variety of location, from the harbors and river mouths to the outer and 

 deeper portions of tjie sound. The subsequent dredging operations 

 were chiefly restricted to Bridgeport and Stratford districts, and were 

 carried on with greater detail and precision than in 1889, stations being 

 made at regular intervfils of half a mile in both directions. In this 

 manner it was cxp(>cted to obtain a continuous record showing the 

 character and condition of the bottom. 



Both the physical and chemical investigations were conclusive in 

 demonstrating that, so far as regards the general conditions of the 



