20 EIGHTH REPORT OF THE SHELL FISH COMMISSIONERS 
As many of the lot corners are located by sextant angles de- 
rived from the maps in the office, it is evident that these ‘“buoy- 
angle books,’’ as they are termed, contain much data not to be 
found in the general buoy notes. The general buoy records show 
the work actually done. The buoy-angle books show the work 
that is subject to demand off each town. The reduced sound- 
ings should be entered in the buoy-angle books for all corners 
that have been surveyed or set. This would save time in buoy 
setting, as the buoy rope could be cut the right length and the 
buoy dropped at the required point without delay. The copy of 
the buoy-angle books is not complete and has not been compared. 
The records descriptive of the signal structures built by the 
Commission, and of the church spires, cupolas, towers, and other 
objects in use for sextant work, have been collated and bound in 
two indexed volumes. 
The records of the geographical positions and data of the 
positions triangulated by the Commission should be compiled and 
published, as they are the product of great labor and much ex- 
pense and are the foundation facts of the final mapping. 
A revision, collation, and ink copy should be made of the sur- 
vey notes and other data incident to locating, at or near the shore 
line, the initial points of the meridian divisional lines on the 
water between the several towns, and also incident to locating the 
points of change of direction in the ‘Commissioners’ line,” which 
marks the division of grounds between town and State jurisdiction. 
THE MAPS. 
A careful comparison of the maps and tax lists shows that there 
are now a considerable number of town grants, which the 
owners value enough to pay taxes on, that have not been located 
on the maps. A revision was made last spring, so that these lots 
might be surveyed in connection with buoy work that might be 
called for in their vicinity. J regret to say that the matter was 
not brought about. 
The placing on maps, in proper relative position, of many of 
the lots is impossible, unless surveys of the ground claimed are 
first made on the water. But lots whose records are explicit and 
based on data which is consistent with known physical facts, have 
from the start been mapped by their record title. Many of the 
owners have held, from the time of the layout of their grounds, 
by mutual agreements as to ranges, ground which is not theirs 
