Siar Or CONNECEICUR 
REPORT. 
To His Excellency the Governor and the General Assembly of the State 
of Connecticut: 
The Commissioners of Shell Fisheries respectfully present their 
Fourth Annual Report: 
During the past year the Commissioners have found it necessary to 
devote more time to their official duties than ever before. The rapid 
growth of the oyster industry since the organization of the Commis- 
sion has brought to their attention a great variety of novel questions 
which demanded careful consideration and judicious settlement, most 
of them being of permanent interest to the oystermen. 
The subjects which have principally had their attention are the fol- 
lowing: 
The arbitration and adjustment of disputes between adjoining own- 
ers of oyster grounds; 
Conferences with the oystermen, and other investigations, with a 
view to a just valuation of oyster grounds, in order to secure a satis- 
factory basis of taxation; 
The preparation of the tax list for the year, and attendance at meet- 
ings in the towns along the shore for the purpose of hearing com- 
plaints as to valuation, and for correcting the list; 
The collection of taxes laid the year before; 
The examination of applications for the designation of grounds, and 
the consequent hearings when such applications have been resisted; 
The negotiations to secure grounds for signal stations upon the 
shore; 
