OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 13 
to their official duties, and they have no inducement to favor one sec- 
tion above another. If they could see any possible benefit from a 
Board of Relief, they would gladly advocate a law for its appointment; 
for it would relieve the Commissioners from some adverse criticism, at 
least. But as servants of the State, looking to its best interests, the 
Commissioners cannot recommend it. 
DUMPING GROUNDS. 
Pursuant to chap. cxxxi. of the Session Laws of 1883, the Com- 
missioners have located dumping grounds off New Haven harbor and 
off Bridgeport harbor, and they have appointed suitable persons to 
accompany every boat when employed in carrying mud or other 
material for dumping to such grounds. The result has been that the 
boat captains have fully respected the law, and no complaints against 
them have been made by the oystermen since the law went into effect. 
SIZE OF BUOYS. 
During the year the Hartford and New York Transportation Com- 
pany has lodged complaints with Colonel Walter McFarland, of the 
United States Engineers, against the use of unnecessarily heavy spars 
for buoying out grounds. The subject was courteously referred by 
him to the Commissioners, and after due inquiry and deliberation a 
rule was established forbidding the use of buoys of larger dimensions 
than three inches by four inches—or if tapering spars are used they 
are not to exceed four inches in diameter at a point six feet below the 
surface of the water. Since this rule was made known, the engineers 
have strictly adhered to it—and no complaints have since been made 
by the Transportation Company to the Commissioners. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
That there is a steady growth in the oyster industry of the State is 
obvious in many ways: One of the most striking proofs is the rapid 
increase in the number of steamers employed. ‘There are already in 
the business forty steamers, with an aggregate carrying capacity of 
36,720 bushels, as appears from the following table: 
