52 Proceedings of the First Convention 



but what an entomologist is somewhat out of place here, 

 judging from the technical way the people have spoken. You 

 want some one who has given his attention entirely to mos- 

 quitoes — a culologist. I am here to outline in a brief way what 

 appears to me possible for the State to do in this work. It is, 

 of course, a very important undertaking, and I wish to state 

 for those interested in economic problems that we claim this 

 should have a part. I learn here to-day that wdthin a radius 

 of 25 miles of the city limits you have 300 square miles 

 of swamp area, 200 in New York and 100 in New Jersey. As 

 a State official, that on the other side does not interest me 

 very much, but as a citizen it does. 



NEW YORK STATE'S PART IN MOSQUITO 

 EXTERMINATION. 



By E. Porter Felt, Sc.D. 



New York State Entomologist. 



The recent discoveries that mosquitoes were active agents 

 in the dissemination of malaria and yellow fever excited great 

 interest, and this has been materially increased by operations in 

 various parts of the world, showing that it was not only pos- 

 sible but eminently practicable to check the spread of these 

 diseases by fighting mosquitoes. It is a very natural step from 

 this to attempt to reduce the annoyance and discomforts caused 

 by swarms of these pests, even though they may not be car- 

 riers of disease. This work has been taken up in earnest in 

 several localities in New York State, and it suffices only to 

 mention the excellent results obtained by the North Shore Im- 

 provement Association in its attempts to abate the trouble over 

 extended areas, and also the very laudable work of the Board 

 of Health of Lawrence, L. I. 



It is surprising, though nevertheless true, that there are 

 practically 200 (199.15) square miles* of swamp land within 

 twenty-five miles of City Hall. A little over 100 (101.85, 

 41.40 being fresh water swamps) square miles are in New 

 Jersey. This entire area is of interest to residents of this city, 

 while we are primarily concerned with the nearly 100 (95.55) 

 square miles of salt marsh within this radius in New York 

 State, and the very small amount (1.75 square miles) fresh 



*Planimeter determinations from U. S. Geological Survey. 



