6 FOURTH REPORT OF SHELL FISH COMMISSIONERS 
NATURAL BEDS. 
During the past year the Commissioners made a thorough investi- 
gation of the extent of the Fish Island and the Roton Point natural 
beds, and they have been carefully surveyed, outlined, and mapped. 
A particular description of them will be found in the Appendix of 
this Report. The chief difficulty was in determining the south line 
of the beds, as there was great conflict of testimony. The Commis- 
sioners finally adopted the south line, which is nearly coincident with 
the north lines of the town designations, which had been previously 
made on the south side of the beds. ‘The line so chosen was the 
most southerly line claimed by any of the oystermen who work on 
the natural beds. 
The area of these beds, which are continuous, is three hundred and 
seven acres. 
As this completes the survey and mapping of all the natural beds 
in the State waters, the Commissioners recommend that a law be 
passed ratifying and confirming their descriptions. ‘They may all be 
found particularly set out in this and the previous Reports of the 
Commissioners. 
The following isa complete list of these beds, with their respective 
areas: 
ACRES. 
Cormell Reef, Natural Bed, - - - - - - 15 
Portchester, “ “ = E = 3 _ Ps 218 
Great Captains, “ “ = 2 5 2 _ 4 152 
Field Point, fs ae = = = = 3 = 84 
Greenwich Point, Natural Bed, - - - - 403 
Fairfield Bar and Fairfield, Natural Bed, - - =) 91,237, 
Bridgeport, aG se : = 4 334 
Stratford, “ “ e = = 3/055 
Fish Island and Roton Point, ‘“ m - - - 307 
Total number of acres, - - - = = - 5,805 
DESIGNATIONS. 
During the past year, beginning with December 1, 1883, and end- 
ing with November. 30, 1884, the number of applications for oyster 
grounds was ninety-two (92); covering an area of four thousand four 
hundred eighteen and two-tenths (4418,2,) acres. The whole area 
of grounds designated during the year is six thousand five hundred 
five and sixty-eight one-hundredths (6505,58,) acres; which brought 
