The Mosquitoes of New Jersey 193 



water will travel, for, obviously the more swiftly the water will flow 

 the smaller the ditch may be made and yet carry off the necessary 

 amount of water. The slope of the banks will depend upon the na- 

 ture of the soil, for they must not cave in and block the drainage. 

 Under the best conditions much maintenance will be required in suc- 

 ceeding years. 



All the preceding discussion of ditching assumes that there is suf- 

 ficient fall to render the continuous movement of water in one direc- 

 tion possible. Without doubt, as is usually the case, instances will 

 be found on salt marshes where such movement cannot be provided 

 for. In such cases the water may be removed from the surface by 

 ditches and kept moving by introducing a water supply at their 

 heads. 



The planning of drainage systems of various sorts is an engineer- 

 ing problem and must be handled in that way. 



The financing of drainage operations may prove a very great 

 burden or indeed may be impracticable, but much can be done by 

 securing the cooperation and a large amount of the funds from 

 the land-owners. The mosquito-fighting organization should keep 

 a keen lookout for land-owners who desire to improve their lands 

 for agricultural purposes and should in every possible way encourage 

 any effort. 



Let no year pass in which an appreciable percentage of permanent 

 filling, grading and drainage work is not done and in the course of a 

 few years the protected area will reach a point where adequate pro- 

 tection can be given for a sum merely sufficient to provide for a 

 minimum of temporary work and the maintenance of the permanent 

 work. The higher the percentage of total breeding places that have 

 been permanently eliminated, the smaller will be the temporary 

 work necessary to give the people living in protected areas adequate 

 protection. 



Brief History of Mosquito Control in New Jersey and Adjacent 



Territory 



As a net result of an investigation made concerning the beginnings 

 of anti-mosquito work in New Jersey, it seems that a number of 

 persons, among whom should be included particularly, Dr. John B. 

 Smith and Spencer Miller, were giving serious thought to the prob- 

 lem previous to the year 1900. In 1900 Dr. Smith secured from the 

 director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stations a small 

 sum of money for a preliminary investigation of the problem. 



On June 27, 1901, Dr. Smith sent out the following communica- 

 tion to the various boards of health in the state : 



