Report of tl)e 5f)ellfisf) Commissioner. 



To ffje Commissioners of Fisheries, Game and Forests : 



GENTLEMEN: — I have the honor of transmitting the following preliminary report 

 of the Shellfish Department of the Fisheries, Game and Forest Commission of which 

 I have charge : 



During the past year there have been granted 228 applications for oyster lots, 

 covering from one to ten acres each. Perhaps a fair average would be about five 

 acres each, or a total of 1,140 acres. This work was done principally in Jamaica Bay 

 in both Queens and Kings counties. 



Together with this work there have been made a map and survey covering Long 

 Island Sound from Port Jefferson to Horton's Point, a distance of about fifty miles, as 

 provided by chapter 458 of the Laws of 1898 for the purpose of granting franchises 

 in Long Island Sound for oyster cultivation within the jurisdiction of Suffolk county; 

 and I sincerely hope the present Legislature will extend the same powers over the 

 lands under water in Queens and Nassau counties, in order to enable our oystermen 

 to compete with those of other States in raising and cultivating this great article of 

 food in deep water. 



The State Engineer's office has given us very great assistance in this work, and 

 enabled us to complete the survey with very little extra expense to the State. Already 

 several applications for franchises have been made and are awaiting the regular course 

 of advertising and sale at auction, as required by law. 



All of which is respectfully submitted, 



EDWARD THOMPSON, 



Shellfish Commissioner. 

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