OF DEE, S DALE OF (CONNECTICULS | 5 
hundred acres; and one hundred and forty-five own each one 
hundred and one acres and upwards. 
The area of cultivated grounds is constantly and rapidly increas- 
ing. The grounds which remain uncultivated are mostly owned 
by oyster growers, and they will shell and plant as fast as prac- 
ticable. Still it is believed that many acres of good ground are 
held for speculative purposes. With some of these grounds the 
period of five years will soon expire, when Section 5, Chapter 
CLX. of the Laws of 1881, must be enforced by the Commis- 
sioners. This section provides that if the grounds are not occu- 
pied and used for oyster cultivation within five years after desig- 
nation, the Commissioners shall apply to the Superior Court to 
appoint a committee to inquire as to such use and occupancy, and 
if it is found that the grounds have not been cultivated in good 
faith the Court may order such grounds to revert to the State. 
The belief prevails, to some extent, that all of the best lots in 
the state waters have been taken; but this is not true. Lots 
nearest the shore have been deemed more accessible, and have 
been generally preferred by cultivators. But there are thou- 
sands of acres of grounds available for cultivation which are still 
open for designation. And there is reason to believe that many 
would gladly take up a large area of these grounds if they were 
not forbidden _ by law. 
The act establishing the State Commission for the designation 
of oyster grounds, approved April 14, 1881, permits applications 
to be made only by “persons who have resided in the State not 
less than one year next preceding the date of said application.” 
A like restriction is put by the same act upon all assignments of 
oyster grounds granted by the State. It is obvious that the pur- 
pose of the law was to exclude non-residents from its privileges. 
The Commissioners believe this law to be as impolitic as it is 
in many instances ineffectual. It is easily evaded. There are 
many acres of land legally designated to residents which have 
been paid for and are really owned by non-tesidents. Besides 
this, grantees in ignorance of the law have in several instances 
sold to non-residents, who have bought in like ignorance. If the 
purpose of the law was to give citizens a preference, its purpose 
is fully accomplished, and it is believed that the time has come 
when such restrictions should be abolished, and the grounds 
thrown open to every one who will pay for them. This would 
promote the sale of state grounds and bring considerable money 
O.0GE vs 
33 5 § 7 eo 
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