356 MOSQUITOES OF NOETH AMERICA 



Practically beginning with 1901, there has been a rather rapid increase in 

 anti-mosquito work by individuals and communities, but this work has not 

 progressed with anything like the rapidity demanded by the distressing con- 

 ditions of many localities and in fact of great areas. Yet, it is probably accurate 

 to state that more intelligent work of this kind has been done in the United 

 States than in any other country. This is probably due to the greater prevalence 

 of mosquitoes in the United States than in any other highly civilized country, 

 but the well-loiown practical character of the American people is also an element. 



During the summer of 1900, Mr. W. J. Matheson carried on some admirable 

 anti-mosquito work at his large place at Lloyd's Neck, Long Island. This work 

 was most thoroughly done and was most successful, no mosquitoes breeding in 

 localities where they had previously swarmed to such an extent as to render them 

 almost uninhabitable. In the autumn of 1900, there was a migration of salt- 

 marsh mosquitoes to Lloyd's Neck from salt marshes bordering on Center Island. 

 Mr. Matheson induced the practical owners of Center Island to take up extensive 

 work during the summer of 1901, and this work was carried through in a very 

 perfect manner by Mr. H. C. Weeks, engineer in charge, and was described in the 

 " Century Magazine " for July, 1902. In the summer of 1901 was also begun 

 by far the largest piece of work as yet undertaken. It originated on the northern 

 shore of Long Island in the regions between Hempstead Harbor and Cold Spring 

 Harbor, and was carried on under the auspicies of the North Shore Improvement 

 Association, a group of wealthy and prominent residents of this part of the 

 Island. The work during the summer of 1901 included an almost microscopic 

 survey of the region and the .preparation of a map showing the breeding-places 

 of the several kinds of mosquitoes. It included also the preparation of reports 

 by entomological experts, a report by Professor Shaler, of Harvard University, 

 on marsh areas and related subjects; an account of the work done on Center 

 Island during 1901 ; and engineering reports, including recommendations for 

 treatment, by Mr. H. C. Weeks. A volume was published in the spring of 1902 

 entitled " Eeports on Mosquitoes, with Map " (New York, Press of Styles and 

 Cash), which will form a very sound basis for thorough ocean-shore community 

 work for some time to come. Following the survey of the work by the North 

 Shore Improvement Association, in 1901, there were carried on by private in- 

 dividuals and by the Association, in 1902, certain remedial and preventive opera- 

 tions. One of the most interesting of this series was performed on the estate of 

 Mr, W. D. Guthrie. By means of a dyke and a sluice gate a large marsh area 

 was drained out, and the breeding of the salt-marsh mosquitoes was stopped. 

 A stretch of 75 acres of land was reclaimed, the soil was disintegrated and 

 properly treated, with the result that cabbages, turnips, and celery were grown 

 at the close of the summer of 1902. 



The year of 1902 was also marked by the first effort to secure anti-mosquito 

 legislation from one of the United States, The State Entomologist of New 

 Jersey, Doctor John B, Smith, backed by an intelligent public sentiment, tried 

 to secure the passage of a bill by the State Legislature during the winter of 

 1901-2, appropriating ten thousand dollars for the purpose of investigating 



