OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 9 
15. To prepare and deposit in the several town clerks’ offices 
record books for recording designations and other instruments 
pertaining to oyster grounds. 
16. To make an annual report to the Legislature of the con- 
dition of the industry. 
The next year, 1882, the Legisture imposed upon the Commis- 
sioners additional duties: 
1. They were virtually constituted a tribunal to settle all 
questions and disputes touching the ownership, titles, buoys, 
boundaries, ranges, extent and location of the shell fishery 
grounds, with special directions as to procedure in such cases, 
their decision to be final and binding, unless an appeal should be 
taken therefrom to the Superior Court. 
2. ‘To collect and place upon the records of the Shell Fishery 
Commission all evidences of titles not yet recorded either on the 
records of the Commission or of town clerks, and to take steps 
to recover to the State all grounds for which no title could be 
shown. 
3. To settle disputes about lines between owners where maps 
show discrepancies, and to appoint a surveyor to make examina- 
tion and survey of disputed lines, and report to the Commission, 
who shall then summon all parties and have a hearing; after 
which the Commissioners shall settle the line. 
4. To originate and carry into effect a complete system of 
taxation of all the oyster lots in the State. 
5. Toselect proper grounds, off the different towns, out in 
the Sound, for dumping grounds, designate and buoy them out, 
and map them. 
The next year they had still further duties: 
1. They were authorized to appoint two or more suitable 
persons in each town to be shell-fish wardens. 
2. They were required to select and lease grounds for the 
State for signal structures. 
3. To supervise steam excavators used in dredging, and to 
grant permits after investigation. 
4. To appoint suitable persons overseers of dumping, who 
were to accompany every boat carrying mud or other waste mate- 
rial to be dumped in the waters of the Sound, and to see that the 
laws were observed, so that oyster grounds were not injured by 
such material. 
