48 SHELL-FISH COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT. [Jan., 
too willing and over-zealous to Jet these grounds slip into 
the hands of a few favorites, contrary to the obvious spirit 
and intent of the law, and many of them at grossly inade- 
quate prices. 
The commissioners report the following principal desig- 
nations of this class: 
April 30, 1881, the oyster committee of Guilford to Wil- 
liam P. Hannifan and 224 others, 450 acres exclusive of 
mud and other unsuitable bottom, for fifty cents an acre. 
Assigned to Henry C. Rowe and recorded at midnight of 
the same day. This ground was off the town of Madison, 
and contained, by description, 1,000 acres. 
April 27, 1881, the same committee of Guilford to Henry 
C. Rowe and 175 others, 350 acres, besides soft and other 
unsuitable bottom for fifty cents an acre. The signatures 
to this application are all in the same handwriting, and the 
names in the application do not in all cases agree with 
those in the assignment, which was made on the following 
day to Henry C. Rowe, and entered to be recorded April 
30, 1881. 
April 30, 1881, the same Guilford committee to Reuben 
L. Fowler and 199 others, 400 acres—the spain! dated 
April, 1881, no day being given. 
April 28, 1881, the same Guilford committee to H. J. 
Lewis and 199 others, 400 acres; application dated — —, 
1881. 
The same committee to Henry J. Lewis and others— 
papers without date, number of acres not specified, but by 
description the area is 200 acres. The designation is 
signed by the names of the above committee as “Oyster 
Ground Committee of Hast Haven.” Papers were record- - 
ed April 30, 1881. 
April 30, 1881, by the same Guilford committee, a desig- 
nation was made which omits the names of the parties to 
whom made, the number of acres and the consideration 
paid. The area described is 200acres. Onthe back of the 
designation it appears to have been assigned by Henry M. 
Shannon to N. C. Frink. 
The same Guilford committee made a designation omit- 
