OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. 5 
among oysters is like weeds in a garden. Persistent and intelli- 
gent efforts will do much to eradicate the nuisance in either 
case. 
As the Commissioners of Shell-fisheries were to ter- 
minate their official career on the 30th of June, 1889, their last 
year was devoted to attention to the routine duties of the office, 
and frequent consultations with the engineer and clerk, with a 
view to leaving all departments of the office in the best possible 
condition for their successors. 
Hon. Robert G. Pike of Middletown, who had been a mem- 
ber of the Commission from its inception, resigned his position 
in January, 1889. To him the office is indebted for the many 
legal blanks of all kinds required in the transaction of its bus- 
iness, and he wrote the decisions of the board in the difficult 
cases of arbitration which have been submitted to it. 
Hon. James A. Bill remained with the Commission to the 
end, and is at present Chairman of the Fish Commission of the 
State. 
