38 SEVENTH REPORT OF THE SHELL FISH COMMISSIONERS 
June 25, surveys were made relative to the initial point of the 
meridian section of the town line between Westport and Nor- 
walk. Mr. Eli Bradley pointed out quite a number of re- 
puted landmarks each of which probably have significant bearing 
on questions of law which are likely to arise regarding certain 
grants of oyster grounds made by the towns. The definition given 
of this point, as published in your report for the year 1881, is: “A 
point marked by a bound stone on Sprite Island, which point is 
due south of the head of Duck Pond.” This conforms to the 
statement made to you on July 19, 1881, by Mr. George S. 
Adams, Selectman of the town of Westport. By the Act creating 
the town of Westport, passed May, 1835, and found in the private 
laws of Connecticut, Vol. II., Edition of 1837, page 1195, the 
southern portion of the Western boundary is as follows: “ Thence 
“southerly to the centre of the highway leading around Duck Pond, 
“so called, and following the centre of said highway, until it 
“passes the head of said pond; and thence in a due south course 
“to Long Island Sound.” I ask your attention to what construc- 
tion shall be given to the term “due south,’ as applied to the 
town boundary lines. 
Magnetic bearings are variable and uncertain. The notes, 
computations and maps relating to all the town lines should be 
collated, revised and copied in ink, into a proper reference book. 
It would also be well to enter in this book the exact latitude of 
the line between Connecticut and New York, at intervals say of 
five minutes of longitude. This state line from off Greenwich, 
runs in a straight line (the arc of a great circle) northeasterly toa 
point four statute miles true south of the New London light- 
house. The end points are somewhat over eighty-two miles 
apart. The co-ordinates of required points have been computed 
on this line, but before the line can be placed in full on your maps, 
it will be necessary to compute the location of other points on the 
line. 
GEOGRAPHICAL POSITIONS. 
New stations have been added, from time to time, to the sur- 
vey. ‘These are found necessary to meet special cases that have 
arisen in reference to the location of lots whose titles were based 
on town records. 
It is my intention to bring all this material, now on separate 
pages, together into a convenient book of reference, to be pub- 
lished in your report. 
