29 
and center signal and the point sought, and the left hand circle being 
one which passes through the left hand and center signal and the 
point sought. 
The number of buoys set and sextant positions determined after 
July 12th was.325. In 198 cases the right hand angle was taken by 
myself, the left hand angle was by Mr. D. C. Sanford. The remain- 
ing 127 points were located by Mr. Sanford and Mr. Bramley. The 
practice of taking a sounding and a specimen of the bottom at each 
point has been continued during the year. The character of the bot- 
tom is noted at the time of the observations. 
Concerning the surveys of oyster lots made during the year I might 
say many things; but to make a full statement from the buoy books 
would make this report too long. 
The old map of the Bridgeport Town Committee serves to show 
how uncertain some of the town records are. The map is a sheet of 
paper on which appears a large number of rectangles, each one of 
which represents a two acre lot. A glance at the map shows that it 
is not drawn to a scale, and that nota single point is fixed by refer- 
ence to any point on shore. Occupation becomes then practically 
the only resort for ascertaining the location of these lots. Actual 
surveys of the lots by ranges which are mutually recognized by neigh- 
boring lot owners, but which are not on record, show that not a 
single corner is a right angle, and that the area occupied is often too 
large. If differences of opinion arise as to boundaries, it is difficult 
under such circumstances to reach a fair conclusion. It is evident 
that the map is simply a plan showing the relative position of the 
two acre designations. It is of no value in ascertaining their loca- 
tion on the Sound. For the permanent location of oyster lots it 
appears that maps constructed in accordance with geodetic methods 
are indispensable. Ranges are of much value, but are not always 
sufficient. For example, in 1867 a certain tract was designated, off 
Bridgeport, to Mr. Wheeler Hawley. As a part of his record title 
certain ranges are given. ‘The eastern side ranges overa large elm 
tree and a church. ‘The tree has been cut down, and the church 
was burned some years ago. ‘The southern range is no longer deter- 
minable. ‘The western range is a house over a steeple. The house 
has burned. The northern range is the Black Rock Lighthouse 
over the centre of the woods on Wakeman’s Island. The woods are 
not of great extent, and so serve as a fair range. Approximations 
were made by associating the objects which have disappeared with 
other objects near by, and a good survey made of these ranges, 
