440 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



Cooke, Col. William Barbour and the writer. The writer was appointed 

 manager, secretary and treasurer. It was called the Monmouth Beach Im- 

 provement Association and its object was the suppression of the mosquito 

 pest. From this time the active duties of the writer began, and the results 

 that were obtained from a temporary standpoint were satisfactory. Every 

 foot of the meadow and the surrounding territory was examined, and the 

 breeding places located. The men were assigned to their several posts and 

 the work prosecuted with the utmost vigor. About this time the effort to 

 obtain the desired results seemed impossible, owing to the many obstacles that 

 had to be met and overcome. The lack of funds, the ridicule and sometimes 

 active opposition of the residents, the unfriendly attitude of health boards and 

 the funny articles in the local papers were only a few of the difficulties that 

 had to be contended with. But, one by one, the different conditions were met 

 and overcome, the subscription became more generous, the ridicule and active 

 opposition ceased and the papers began to treat the matter seriously. The 

 majority of the community was beginning to realize that the work was being 

 done for their benefit. 



A severe wind storm on the nth and 12th of August, 1902, brought large 

 swarms of mosquitoes to Monmouth Beach, and it seemed for a time to have 

 a very discouraging effect upon the residents who had contributed. This was 

 the opportunity that the cranks had been waiting for, and you can rest assured 

 that they made the most of the opportunity. They certainly tried to make 

 life miserable for the writer, and the papers were not at all backward with 

 their ridicule and funny stories. This was a most trying time for those that 

 were interested in the movement. Prompt action was necessary, consequently 

 bulletin No. 2 was issued, containing a complete statement of what had been 

 done, the amount of oil that had been used, where it had been placed, and the 

 number of men that were in the field. It also stated that the cause of the 

 trouble was due to the high winds, which carried the mosquitoes to Monmouth 

 Beach from places that had not been treated. At the same time maps were 

 being prepared showing the breeding spots and indicating where a little dig- 

 ging to connect pools with drainage points and a little filling in would per- 

 manently abate the nuisance. Little by little the way was being prepared for 

 the work that was to follow. An appeal was also made for more funds to 

 continue the work early the following spring. It was also urged upon the 

 property-holders for each individual to become a committee unto himself by 

 looking after his own property, thereby co-operating with the committee who 

 had the work in charge. It was shown very plainly that the results from such 

 co-operation would tend to convince the unbelievers. 



August i.Sth, igo2, the treasurer had received three hundred and eighty 

 dollars ($380) in response to the first circular; another circular was issued 

 stating that the committee had secured the co-operation of the health boards, 

 including Long Branch, Seabright and Ocean township, and the committee felt 

 assured that the work would be successful with the above co-operation. The 

 warfare continued with unvarying success until October, when the committee 

 decided to cease operation until the following spring. 



Early in the summer of 1903 the writer issued a special bulletin to the sub- 

 scribers of the mosquito fund, and copies of the same were mailed to the 

 property-owners from North Long Branch to Seabright. The bulletin con- 

 tained a complete description of the work from .July 12th, 1902. Extracts from 

 the same are as follows: When larvae are found, oil is placed upon the same, 

 exterminating them almost instantly. The funds have been_ exhausted ; we 

 must have the money to carry on the warfare, and the subscription should be 

 mailed promptly. Oil is, not a permanent remedy. Eliminating the_ pest 

 places is the only permanent relief. This can be done by ditching, draining, 

 and filling in. Oil is necessary in places where the remedy for the disease 

 cannot be reached by a permanent method. It seems to be a prevalent idea 

 that the meadows are responsible for the whole mosquito tribe. _ The impres- 

 sion is erroneous. The Ctilex sollicitans. or salt marsh mosquitoes, are bred 

 in large numbers and require careful attention, yet there are millions of the 

 pests iored around the houses when the conditions are favorable. 



