8 FIFTH REPORT OF SHELL FISH COMMISSIONERS 
under the law, and the quantities of proposed excavations and 
dumping the then coming year, the Commissioners made as low 
an estimate as they thought safe, but it was cut down to the small 
sum of three hundred dollars—a sum already nearly exhausted. 
Thus embarrassed by a law that requires them to pay without ad- 
equate means, rather than have the inspection omitted, they have 
induced the inspectors to continue the service, in the confident 
expectation that the Legislature will appreciate the justness of 
their claim for compensation and will provide means for its pay- 
ment. 
MAPPING. 
The most important and difficult task imposed on the Commis- 
sioners by the State is that of surveying and mapping the grounds 
within their jurisdiction, which had been designated in previous 
years by Town Committees. In addition to this general map for 
the State they are also required to “ provide sectional maps com- 
prising all grounds located within the meridian boundary lines 
of the several towns on the shores of the State, which maps 
shall be lodged in the Town Clerk’s office of the said respective 
towns.” ‘This work has occupied a large share of the time and 
attention of the Commissioners from the beginning. The num- 
ber of lots they are required to map is seven hundred and seventy- 
two. It was obvious that every lot must be given its exact posi- 
tion, shape and area on the required map, or the mapping would 
be of no value. To do this effectually considerable preliminary 
work was necessary, and it was begun without delay. The whole 
shore of the State was triangulated and the geodetic position of 
every prominent object thereon which could be used for refer- 
ence, was carefully determined and then mapped. Where no such 
object existed, signal structures were erected and their geodetic 
position was ascertained and mapped. ‘Twenty-seven large per- 
manent structures were thus built, and several small ones of less 
importance. ‘The Commissioners’ line was then run from head- 
land to headland along the shore, from Byram Point to the Paw- 
catuck River, whereby the grounds given by the State for town 
management were separated from the grounds put under the con- 
trol of the Commissioners. ‘This line was determined with great 
care, after consultation with the authorities of each town. It 
has been accurately mapped and carefully connected by observa- 
