REPORT ON MOSQUITOES. 445 



The ditched areas are kept clean by two men employed by 

 the Rumson Neck people and two men on the Monmouth Beach 

 side. The ditches are thus kept in good running order and no 

 breeding places can now exist there. 



The area from North Long Branch to East Long Branch on 

 Troutman's Creek and the Port-au-Peck to the south side of 

 Little Silver Creek has not been drained. But this place will in 

 all probability be attended to next spring. Seven to eight hun- 

 dred dollars will clean out the entire strip. 



The breeding places on private property have also been at- 

 tended to, and while mosquitoes have been all but unbearable in 

 most coast towns in New Jersey, Monmouth Beach and Rum- 

 son Neck did not have more than an occasional specimen, which 

 usually came from an outside breeding place ! 



Mr. Brehme's last statement should be held to apply to marsh 

 mosquitoes only, because it is almost certain that at several points 

 a brood of the house mosquitoes "got away." No mention is 

 made by either Mr. Winship or Mr. Brehme of the fact that some 

 individual owners did considerable work on their own premises. 

 A notable instance is that of Mr. William E. Strong, who owns 

 a considerable stretch of marsh land which was excellent mos- 

 quito breeding ground to the extent of millions of specimens. He 

 has ditched and filled this danger area so completely that it is 

 doubtful whether anywhere on his estate a single mosquito can 

 develop. 



In explanation of the employment of men to keep the ditches 

 open, it should be said that the shifting sands of the Shrewsbury 

 tend to fill or seal the ditch outlets, and with almost every extra 

 high or storm tide little pools become obvious, which may, 

 under especially favorable conditions, become breeding places. 



In closing this account, the circular letter already referred to 

 and a memorandum of others received from representatives of 

 both associations are attached. 



MOSQUITO EXTERMINATION. 



To all Householders: 



The residents of Rumson Neck and Monmouth Beach, through commit- 

 tees, have begun a crusade against the pest of mosquitoes, and for several 

 months have been actively at work ditching and filling in low spots on both 

 shores of Pleasure Bay, under the direction and supervision of Prof. John B. 

 Smith, of New Brunswick, State Entomologist. So far as this work is con- 

 cerned, it has been so well and carefully done as to destroy the breeding 

 grounds, but it is necessary to have the co-operation of every property- 

 owner and householder of both sides of Rumson Neck, from the Seabright 

 bridge to Red Bank, including Little Silver, and from the village of Sea- 

 bright to North Long Branch and beyond on the shore, and inland from 



