38 SHELL-FISH COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT. [Jan., 
ment. Mr. Charles A. Baldwin, about the same time, was 
appointed clerk of the Board; but after a very creditable 
service of one month, he was succeeded by Mr. Frederick 
Botsford, whose long experience in clerical work thor- 
oughly qualified him for his position. Huis services have 
proved eminently useful and satisfactory to the Board. 
The need of a commodious office for the work of the 
Board was imperative. A room was selected in the city 
of New Haven for the reason that it would be most conve- 
nient to the greatest number of persons in the State inter- 
ested in the oyster industry. It was supplied with furni- 
ture needed by the engineer and clerk. In doing this the 
strictest economy was observed, and nothing was purchased 
which was not indispensable. 
The Board have held regular sessions on Monday of 
each week and frequent special sessions on other days, 
when the press of business required. 
The most important work which they have completed 
was that of determining the line which should permanently 
divide the oyster areas under State jurisdiction from those 
under town jurisdiction; and of running the meridian 
lines from points, where town division lines touch high- 
water mark, to the boundary line between New York and 
Connecticut. 
As soon as practicable the Selectmen of the shore towns 
were respectively notified to meet the Commissioners at a 
convenient place on the Sound, for conference and co-ope- 
ration in determining the lines in which they were inter- 
ested. At these meetings, held from time to time during 
the summer, the interviews with the town officers were 
always apreeable, and litile or no difficulty was experienced 
in promptly reaching desired results. The rule prescrib- 
ed by the first section of the act of 1881, for running the 
shore line afforded considerable latitude of interpretation ; 
and while it was desirable to reserve for State jurisdiction 
all territory which could by a rigid construction be claimed 
under the act, nevertheless, wherever it was found that a 
liberal interpretation would bring the selectmen and 
Commissioners to a ready agreement upon a line, the Com- 
