232 



CONNECTICUT. 



Shad. The catch of shad in Connecticut 

 river below Essex was only 177,308 in 1883, 

 against 272,903 in 1882, and 351,678 in 1881. 

 The catch along the shore in pounds, hauling- 

 seines, and gill-nets, for 1883, was 40,398. In 

 the Farmington river, in 1883, only 1,155 shad 

 were taken, against 3,800 for 1882 and 11,505 

 in 1881. The commissioners believe that the 

 present modes of fishing are so destructive as 

 to threaten the extermination of the shad. 

 They consider that the only remedy is artifi- 

 cial propagation, which was recommenced on 

 Furmingtou river in 1881, after being discon- 

 tinued for three years. At the Massachusetts 

 hatchery below Holyoke dam, 3,212,500 young 

 shad were turned into the river in 1883. 



Oyster-Culture. The third annual report of 

 the Shell-Fish Commissioners embodies a state- 

 ment of the work done by the commission dur- 

 ing 1883. 



One hundred and eighty-three applications 

 for oyster-grounds were made to the commis- 

 sioners during the year, covering 14, 687 '4 

 acres. There were deeded during the year, 

 14,907-63 acres, which netted to the State 

 $16,382.16. 



During the three years of the commissioners' 

 charge they had sold 38,548*9 acres, and paid 

 into the State Treasury $42,403.79. In addi- 

 tion to this, 12,539-8 acres had been granted, 

 but not deeded, which will net the further sum 

 of $13,793.78. 



All the natural beds have been outlined and 

 mapped except Fish Island and Roton Point 

 beds. Insufficient examination and private 

 litigation have prevented a decision about these 

 beds. The eight beds that are completely de- 

 scribed and to be confirmed by law are Cor- 

 nell Reef, 15 acres; Portchester, 218; Great 

 Captain's, 152; Field Point, 84; Greenwich 

 Point, 403 ; Fairfield, 1,273; Bridgeport, 334; 

 and Stratford, 3,055 making a total of &,493 

 acres. 



The whole number of acres subject to the 

 oare of the engineer for buoying is 83,548, and 

 the work involves great labor and extraordi- 

 nary patience, skill, and exactitude. 



There are about 1,100 acres under cultiva- 

 tion in the State, and probably more. In 1883 

 there were 290 owners, against 216 in 1882. 

 Steamers are rapidly increasing. A list of 

 thirty-one steamers is given, aggregating a car- 

 rying capacity of 27,225 bushels. 



The total receipts paid into the State Treas- 

 ury are $20,516.13; of this $14,907.93 was 

 from deeds, and $3,681.47 from taxes. The 

 balance was from various sources. The dis- 

 bursements were $8,446.24. The receipts are 

 $2,028.87 more, and the expenses $2,444.43 

 less, than they were in 1882. 



Constitutional Amendment. The following is the 

 amendment providing for biennial legislative 

 sessions : 



SECTION!. A general election for Governor, Lieu- 

 tenant-Governor, Secretary, Treasurer, Comptroller, 

 and members of the General Assembly, shall be held 



on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November, 

 1886, and biennially thereafter, for such officers as are 

 herein and may be hereafter prescribed. 



SEC. 2. The State officers above named and members 

 of the General Assembly elected on the Tuesday alter 

 the first Monday of November, 1886, and those elected 

 biennially thereafter, on the Tuesday after the first 

 Monday of November, shall hold their respective of- 

 fices from the Wednesday following the first Monday 

 of the next succeeding January until the Wednesday 

 after the first Monday of the third succeeding Janu- 

 ary, and until their successors are duly qualified. 



SEC. 3. The compensation of members of the Gen- 

 eral Assembly shall not exceed three hundred dollars 

 for the term for which they are elected, and one mile- 

 age each way for the regular session at the rate of 

 twenty-five cents per mile ; they shall also receive one 

 mileage at the same rate for attending any extra ses- 

 sion called by the Governor. 



SEC. 4. The regular sessions of the General Assem- 

 bly shall commence on the Wednesday following the 

 first Monday of the January next succeeding the elec- 

 tion of its members. 



SEC. 5. The Senators elected on the Tuesday after 

 the first Mondav of November, 1885, shall hold their 

 offices only until the Wednesday after the first Mon- 

 day of January, 1887. 



It was voted upon at the annual town meet- 

 ings on the first Monday of October, and rati- 

 fied by the following vote: For, 30,520; against, 

 16,380. In 1886 and thereafter, members of 

 the Legislature and State officers will be elected 

 for two years. The biennial sessions will be- 

 gin in 1887. 



Political. A Republican State Convention 

 assembled in Hartford on April 23, and ch( 

 delegates to the National Convention of th< 

 party. Delegates to the Democratic National 

 Convention were chosen by the Convention that 

 met in New Haven June 5, and adopted, among 

 others, the following resolution : 



The Constitution gives Congress power to lay duties, 

 viz., " to pay the debts and provide for the common 

 defense and general welfare of the United States" ; 

 and we therefore believe it unconstitutional as well as 

 dangerous to collect taxes beyond the necessary re- 

 quirements of the Government, and advocate a tariff 

 sufficient to furnish the necessary revenue for the eco- 

 nomical administration of the same, and adjusted in 

 its application for the general welfare, so as to prevent 

 unequal burdens, and encourage and develop the pro- 

 ductive industries of the country. 



The Republican State Convention, to nomi- 

 nate candidates for State officers, convened in 

 New Haven on Aug. 20. The following were 

 the nominees : 



For Governor, Henry B. Harrison, of New Haven ; 

 Lieutenant-Governor, Lorin A. Cooke, of Barkham- 

 sted ; Secretary of State, Charles A. Russell, of Kill- 

 incfly ; Treasurer, Valentine B. Chamberlain, of New 

 Britain ; Comptroller, Luzerne I. Munson, of Water- 

 bury. Presidential electors were also nominated. 



A Democratic State Convention met in Hart- 

 ford on the 2d of September, and nominated 

 presidential electors and the following State 

 ticket : 



For Governor, Thomas M. Waller, of New London ; 

 for Lieutenant-Governor, George G. Sumner, of Hart- 

 ford ; for Secretary of State, D. Ward Northrop, of 

 Middletown; for Treasurer, Alfred R. Goodrich, of 

 Vernon ; for Comptroller, Joseph D. Plunkett, of New 

 Haven. 



