The Mosquitoes of New Jersey 45 



acre. In these same counties there are 600,000 acres not at present 

 improved which are valued at not more than $20.00 an acre. This 

 land, if improved to its capacity, as shown by areas such as lie about 

 Hammonton and Vineland, should be worth $100.00 an acre. 



In view of the fact that at many coastal seashore resort efforts 

 have come to naught and proved a total loss through the presence 

 of mosquitoes, it is fair to assume that the salt-marsh mosquito pest 

 has proven a bar to that degree of development of the seashore re- 

 sort industry which corresponds to the demands of the large urban 

 population. 



Fig. 15. Solid salt marsh where breeding occurs. 



Along the 150 miles of seacoast from Keyport to Cape ^lay, in- 

 clusive, there are 160,000 acres or more of possible home and hotel 

 sites swept by ocean breezes and blessed with a delightful, clear, sun- 

 ny, summer climate, which encourages bathing, sailing, and other 

 outdoor seaside activities. Only 3300 acres of this area shows any 

 attempt at development, and on a large part of this acreage nothing 

 has been done except to lay out building lots. Nevertheless, in the 

 towns and boroughs included, taxable values reach at present 262 

 millions of dollars. Continuous shore development occurs success- 

 fully only in regions naturally free from the salt-marsh mosquito 

 pest, elsewhere successful development has taken place scatteringly 

 and where the peculiar location renders a limited area largely free 

 from mosquitoes. 



It is believed that the presence of the salt-marsh mosquito has been 

 a factor in retarding the development of the low-lying level areas 



