102 SHELL-FISH COMMISSIONERS’ REPORT. [Jan., 
mittee or selectmen to designate a suitable place to be used by 
him for that purpose, and such committee or selectmen may make 
such designation, not exceeding in territory two acres in extent; 
and such applicant shall mark and stake out such place, and may 
enclose it with buoys or with stakes, set at suitable distances and 
distinctly visible above the surface at high water; and said .com- 
mittee or selectmen shall make a written description of such 
designation and inclosure, by ranges or otherwise, as may be most 
convenient, which shall state the time of such designation; and 
the money derived from such designations shall be paid to the 
town in which the same are made; and designations may be made 
to several in common, as well as to individuals.* 
Sec. 4. Every person who shall plant or cultivate oysters, 
clams, or mussels in any such place shall own them, and have the 
exclusive right of taking up and disposing of them, and of using 
such place for the purpose of planting or cultivating oysters, 
clams, or mussels therein, which shall be transferable by written 
assignment; but nothing herein contained shall affect the rights of 
any owner of lands in which there may be salt-water creeks or 
inlets, or which may be opposite or contiguous to such navigable 
waters; nor the existing by-laws of any city, town, or borough; 
nor authorize any committee or selectmen to designate, or any 
person to mark, stake out, or inclose any natural oyster bed, or 
infringe the free navigation of said waters, or interfere with the 
drawing of seines in any place established and customarily used 
for seine fishing. 
Src. 5. Every person who shall apply for and procure any 
designation of a place for planting oysters to be made to him for 
the purpose of assigning the rights which he may acquire for 
profit or speculation shall be fined fifty dollars. 
Sec. 6. The designation of all places within the navigable 
waters of New Haven harbor or its tributaries which have been 
or may be designated to any person for the purpose of planting 
or cultivating oysters therein, In pursuance of the provisions of 
this chapter, shall be valid, although such places may have been 
natural oyster beds, if such designations are in other respects 
legal; but such of said places as are between Fort Hale and Long 
*A majority of the committee may act, and may act separately. 25 
Conn., 17. If the designation be of ground covered by a natural oyster 
bed, itis void, 37 Conn., 3822. 
