REPORT ON MOSQUITOES. 419 



The mosquito-breeding- area extends up all the rivers to the 

 end of the salt marsh along the banks. That, in the case of the 

 Mullica is between Green Bank and Lower Bank ; in the case of 

 the Wading it is between Bridgeport and Harrisville ; in the case 

 of the Bass it is at the junction of the East branch and the West 

 branch. On the Nacote River, which was also explored, it 

 extends to Port Republic and on Tuckerton Creek to Tuckerton 

 itself. Tuckerton Creek marsh is safe, however, because the 

 creek has been dredged out to deepen it and the dredged material 

 has been used to level the marsh. From such explorations as were 

 made at other isolated places from time to time, and from condi- 

 tions elsewhere, it is almost certain that the edge of the highland 

 condition found in this territory extends south to Absecon, where 

 it joins the Atlantic City Problem and north to West Creek, 

 where the Cedar swamp area joins the marsh area. 



Here is a breeding territory gxeater in extent than any other 

 in the State, thinly inhabited because of the mosc[uito pest, yet 

 well enough located for a thriving population of farmers, fisher- 

 men and oystermen. The possibilities of oyster culture are 

 scarcely even touched upon in this region, though some indivi- 

 dual experiments are carried on. 



The marsh area is traversed by numerous creeks and streams, 

 some of them of considerable size and all of them with clean 

 banks, carrying tide water and hosts of fish. That peculiarity 

 of high banks and lower interior levels prevents the water of 

 the depressed areas from getting into the streams, and the oIm ious 

 remedy is to furnish this outlet. A very simple scheme of ditch- 

 ing will accomplish this, and in some places an enormous amount 

 of benefit will be derived from a small amount of work. 



It means the practical control of the mosquitoes in the pine belt 

 north of this marsh area, because, from the combined observa- 

 tions of Dr. Nelson and Mr. Brakeley, it seems certain that in 

 one or two nights the insects bred here can cover the distance 

 from the Mullica River to Lahaway or Lakewood. 



d. THE GRKAT EGG HARBOR PROBLEM. 



The marshes at the mouth of the Great Egg" Ilarl^or River 

 and along both sides of that river for some distance inland are 

 second in extent to those of the Mullica River only, and at least 

 their equal in ability to breed mosquitoes. To determine Just 

 how bad these places are, Mr. Brehme was sent to run the river 

 down from Mays Landing, which is at the head of the salt marsh 

 territory. Mr. Brehme states that all this marsh area is draina- 



