56 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



tilities were threatened, it was necessary that the dispute should be settled at once. 

 Two years ago the Commissioners of Fisheries advertised and sold a plat of land 

 off Matinnecock Point to the Matinnecock Point Oyster Company. This plat was 

 claimed at the time to be a bed of oysters of natural growth, but such claim, 

 after investigation, was denied by the Commissioners. After much dispute the lot 

 was sold, and the Company entered into possession and began the cultivation of 

 seed. The natural-growth oystermen apparently acquiesced in this occupation and 

 cultivation, and for some time made no attempt to interfere with the Company. 

 During the present summer they began to claim that more ground had been cul- 

 tivated than had been granted, and I immediately caused a survey to be made of 

 the ground in question, it being claimed by the natural-growth oystermen that the 

 occupants had planted more and cultivated more than the area granted them by 

 the State, and caused a thorough investigation to be made. As a result I reported 

 to your body that the grounds occupied were the grounds originally granted, and 

 that there was no just cause for complaint. As I had notified the natural-growth 

 oystermen that this survey would take place, my decision gave entire satisfaction, 

 and what threatened to be a very serious difficulty was amicably settled. 



Another dispute as to a piece of ground off Port Jefferson Harbor was pending 

 at the same time. This had been applied for by planters, but was claimed to be a bed 

 of oysters of natural growth. I took an engineer with me and visited the point in 

 question. We made a thorough investigation, and at the end I was enabled to inform 

 your body that the ground in question was a bed of oysters of natural growth and 

 should be set apart and reserved to the people of the State forever. This decision also 

 proved satisfactory, and the applicants have abandoned their pursuit of this territory. 

 It, perhaps, would be well at this point to explain why disputes of this character are 

 constantly arising between those who cultivate and plant oysters and those who depend 

 upon the beds of natural growth for their living. Originally the supply of oysters for 

 market was obtained entirely from beds of natural growth. This supply was sufficient 

 for the needs of a scanty population living along the Atlantic coast and proved ade- 

 quate for many years. With the increase of population, however, the improvement 

 of transportation facilities, and the exportation of oysters to foreign countries, the 

 beds of natural growth failed to produce oysters fast enough to keep pace with the 

 increased demand. Then it was that oysters began to be cultivated, and lands under 

 water in bays, harbors, and in shoal sounds were taken by oystermen, sometimes upon 

 a lease from the town where they were situated, but oftener without title, and while 

 still depending upon the natural-growth beds for seed, the cultivation of planted beds 

 of oysters began. The constantly increasing demand, together with the appearance 

 upon the natural beds of starfish in large quantities, and the inability of the natural- 



