90 



JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 



[Vol. 6 



As far as we can learn little or no salt marsh draining was actually 

 done east of New Haven in 1912, though several communities took 

 up the matter and progressed as far as having their respective territories 

 examined and obtaining estimates. Draining will be done next sum- 

 mer in at least a portion of these communities. 



The amount and cost of the draining work is shown in the following 

 table : 



MOSQUITO DRAINING IN CONNECTICUT 



This money was raised entirely by voluntary contributions and 

 the draining contracts were all executed by one firm. The average 

 cost per acre of draining salt marshes is somewhat less than appears 

 from these figures as in a number of cases small inland areas were 

 included and some of the work was done on a footage rate. Never- 

 theless it falls a little below $10 per acre. 



Early in the New Haven campaign the committee planned to oil 

 such breeding places as could not be abolished by draining with the 

 limited time and funds at its disposal. Oihng therefore was practiced 

 on many fresh water pools and also on the salt marsh. The results 

 of the work show that even salt marsh mosquitoes may be controlled 

 by oiling, but I shall not recommend that method. Early in the season 

 it is quite simple and inexpensive but in July, August and September, 

 when breeding is at its height and the grass is tall and flooded at the 

 roots, it is well-nigh impossible to cover the water with oil. Moreover, 

 it should be applied only on the subsidence of the high tides and then 

 not until it appears that the adults may emerge before the pools be- 

 come dry. Otherwise much money is wasted. From expense accounts 

 it appears that the average expense of oiling for the whole season 

 amounted to nearly S3 per acre or about one third the cost of draining 

 the same area. Drains will last for many years if given slight atten- 

 tion each season to keep them from being clogged by floating debris. 

 The oil kills only the wrigglers in the water at the time and disappears 

 before the next high tide. Kerosene and light fuel oil known as "34° 

 distillate" were used. The latter though somewhat cheaper in lots 



