FISH CONTROL 183 



Chidester 1 has compiled the following list of other fishes classed 

 as enemies of the mosquito: Heterandria formosa, Abramis 

 chrysolenca, Mollinesia latipennia, Girardinus poeciloides, G. 

 caudimaculatus, Haptochilus, Lucius americanus, Cijprinodon 

 calaritanus. 



PROCEDURE IN FISH CONTROL 



The first procedure in connection with the use of fish as an 

 anti-mosquito measure is to look over the local fishes and ascer- 

 tain what kinds of larva-destroying fishes there are and which 

 will be most suitable for the work in hand. Important consider- 

 ations in this connection are the species of mosquito-destroying 

 fishes most numerous in the vicinity and the character of the 

 places in which they are to be used. 



In general, it may be said Gambusia affinis should be used 

 wherever it may be found, since for all-around work it seems 

 to be superior to any other. Indeed, Gambusia is frequently 

 imported to regions outside of its natural range on account of its 

 superiority to the native fishes. 



When these matters have been determined, the next step is to 

 arrange for an aquarium or "hatchery," so that an abundant 

 supply of fishes will always be at hand for stocking purposes. 

 Generally, a small, shallow pond can be found for the purpose. 

 The pond should not be so big, however, that catching will be 

 difficult. Nor should it, as a rule, be located in the bed of a 

 stream that is subject to floods, since, in this case, it is possible 

 that a storm will disperse all the fish. Care should also be used to 

 obtain an aquarium that is free from bass and other game fish 

 which feed on Gambusia and other minnows. 



On account of the cannibalistic habits of Gambusia affinis, as 

 well as some of the other larva-eating fishes above-mentioned, 

 Hildebrand 2 suggests that one corner of the aquarium be screened 

 off with a%6 inch wire netting to serve as a refuge for the young. 



Steps should also be taken to prevent local fishermen from 

 helping themselves to the minnows or other small fish for use as 

 bait. It has been found that a little publicity, explaining the 



i 



A Biological Study of the More Important of the Fish Enemies of the 

 Salt Marsh Mosquito," New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stations, 

 Bulletin 300, 1916. 



2 "Fishes in' Relation to Mosquito Control in Ponds," U. S. Bureau of 

 Fisheries, 1919. 



