REPORT ON MOSQUITOES. 457 



numerous. Those which I caught in tube containing cyanide of potassium 

 were judged to be sollicitans and cantatur. The marsh affords a good hay 

 crop. The sod is thick and the soil clayey and firm. From the appearance 

 of small natural drains (ditches) the use of ditches in this locality is prac- 

 tical. Southwest of Laning's Wharf (farmer by name of Miller at Laning's 

 Wharf) the bank" built to keep out high tide has a large break in it. The 

 tide gets in and completely covers the section vvhich is marked "flooded at 

 high tide." Still further down the creek and opposite Buena Vista there is 

 a large area which has many breeding places. This was also very dry, but 

 salt grass had grown long and heavy. The marsh was firm, having a good 

 sod and solid soil. Marsh grass was most abundant, some reed being along 

 the edge of ditches, and there were some patches of three-square grass. 

 Adults were scarce The territory near the mouth of the creek was tramped 

 over at beginning of trip to Salem Creek. 



Friday, June 24th. — Explorations were made with a launch near the mouth 

 of the Cohansej^, opposite Tindall's Island. Breeding places were found on 

 both sides. The marsh extends to the water's edge, and high tides wash up 

 on edge but not over it. There are some natural drains. Near these and 

 the edge of the Cohansey the marsh is safe and well drained, but in the 

 interior there are some depressions which hold rain-water or water from 

 exceptionally high tides. The sod is heavy and the soil of a clayey nature. 

 Marsh grass in from the shore was thick and long. There were adults 

 about, but the strong wind made it difficult to capture many. Those cap- 

 tured were five sollicitans, two cantator. This territory yields excellent hay 

 crop — quantity considered. There are patches of three-square grass, usually 

 in wet places. In these wet places no larvfe were found. We got to the 

 mouth of the Cohansey, and, because of the strong wind, we decided to 

 anchor until morning. 



Saturday. June 25th. — We started 6 o'clock to survey the marsh at the 

 mouth of the creek. Breeding spots were found on both sides. On the 

 south side of the mouth (Cohansey Light) there are mud holes and pools. 

 The high tides get very close to the level of the marsh, and at excep- 

 tionally high tide the marsh is covered so that the Cohansey Light looks as 

 though it were on an island. This I learned from the light-keeper. There 

 is a good heavy sod all through this section and the soil firm. Near the 

 Cohanse}' sedge is most common and is short. Along the natural drains reed 

 is found, but this does not interfere with the drainage. The reed grows 

 up on the marsh and not in the ditches (where the ditches are eighteen 

 inches to two feet deep, or more), so that at low tide the bare mud bottom 

 of the ditches shows complete and easy passage of the water. High tides 

 flow up into these ditches, but do not reach depressions in the marsh. There 

 is a slight elevation of the edges of the ditches, which keeps the water back 

 at ordinary tides. These ditches (natural) usually afford an outlet for 

 ditching, if such were desired. On the north side of the mouth of the 

 Cohansey there are a large number of pools and mud holes. In the pools 

 (large and small duck ponds) there is an abundance of fish. These were 

 always clear and clean in appearance. No larva was ever found in these 

 during the trip. The mud spots and holes were usually dry and the mud 

 cracked and curled on the surface. The deeper and more shady ones, how- 

 ever, had water and from these vial No. 3 were obtained. Adults were 

 numerous, mostly (90 per cent.) sollicitans, in about sixty specimens observed. 

 Near the creek bank and bay shore the marsh growth was sedge, but in 

 the interior marsh grass became predominant. The grass is cut each year, 

 but seemed rather short at the time explored. 



The trip north to Salem was decided upon because of the tides. The 

 shore has a sandy edge, with the marsh extending to the bay shore, and the 

 sod is thick and the soil firm. A stop was made at point marked 4 and vial 

 No. 4 was obtained in several neighboring pools. There were plenty of 

 breeding places. The marsh was of same general character as at mouth 

 of Cohansey. Moving up bay shore the sandy bank continues. The next 

 stop was Fishing Creek. The territory north of Fishing Creek has a great 



