494 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
REMEDYING WEAK TITLES. 
By a series of amendments and resolutions the legislature has “healed’’ many weak 
titles to oyster ground, by enacting that designations of ground for planting and cul- 
tivating oysters, clams, or mussels shall be valid and confirmed, including: 
I. All granted informally under the provisions of chapter 3, section vili, although the owners may 
have lost their evidences of title after having filed the same with the town clerk (July 17, 1875). 
II. All in which the applicant may he a married woman or a minor (March 16, 1878). 
III. All in which the application was made for the purpose of transferring the privileges ; and all 
such transfers are confirmed (March 27, 1878). 
IV. All designations for “ planting,” where “ cultivation” is not mentioned. 
V. All designations of ground described as containing not over 2 acres to each applicant, exclusive 
of muddy or rocky bottom, although the total quantity of ground embraced in the designation may be 
more than 2 acres to each applicant (March 27, 1878). 
VI. All designations previous to March, 1879, by the town of East Haven, between its westerly 
boundary and a line drawn due south from the center of the mouth of East Haven River. 
ESTABLISHMENT OP A STATE COMMISSION FOR LOCATING OYSTER GROUNDS. 
Fiually, some montbs subsequent to the compilation of the previous legal infor- 
mation, the legislature of 1881 passed an act, given herewith in full, which reconstructs 
the methods hitherto in vogue and reads as follows : 
An Act Establishing a State Commission for the Designation of Oyster Grounds. 
Be it enacted by the senate and home of representatives in general assenibly convened, The State shall 
exercise exclusive jurisdiction aud control over, all shellfisheries which are located in that area of 
the State which is within that part of Long Island Sound and its tributaries hounded westerly and 
southerly by the State of New York, easterly by the State of Rhode Island, and northerly by a line, 
following the coast.s of the State at high water, which shall cross all its bays, rivers, creeks, and 
inlets at such places nearest Long Island Sound as are within and between points on opposite shores, 
from one of which objects and what is done on the opposite shore can be reasonably discerned with 
the naked eye, or could be discovered but for intervening islands. And all shellfisheries not within 
said area shall be and remain within the jurisdiction and control of the towns in which they are 
located under the same laws and regulations and through the same selectmen and oyster committees 
as heretofore. If a difference shall arise between any town and the commissioners as hereinafter 
provided for, as to the boundary line between said town and the area so to be mapped, said town, by 
its selectmen, may bring its petition to the superior court for the county within which said town is 
situated, to determine said boundary line, and said court upon reasonable notice to the parties shall 
hear said petition and appoint a committee to ascertain the facts in such case and report the same to 
said court, aud said court shall thereupon make such order as may be proper in the premises. 
Sec. 2. The three fish commissioners of the State now in office, and their successors, shall also be 
aud constitute a board of commissioners of shellfisheries, and be empowered to make or cause to be 
made a survey aud map of all the grounds within the said area in Long Island Sound which have been 
or may be designated for the planting or cultivation of shellfish ; shall ascertain the ownership thereof, 
and how much of the same is actually in use for said purposes; they shall also cause a survey of 
all the natural oyster beds in said area, and shall locate and delineate the same on said map, which 
survey aud map when completed shall not cost a sum exceeding $2,500, and shall report to the next 
session of the legislature a plan for an equitable taxation of the property in said fisheries, aud make an 
annual report of the state and condition of said fisheries to the legislature, aud the said commissioners 
shall be empowered to appoint aud employ a clerk of and for said board, and they shall each give a 
bond to the State with sufficient surety for the faithful performance of their duties, and for the payment 
to the State treasurer of all money that may come into their hands under this act in the sum of $2,000. 
Sec. 3. The said commissioners shall also be empowered, in the name and in behalf of the State, 
