108 THE i.ll'SV MOTH. 
inadequate for the fighting of the moth according to the 
methods at present most approved in Massachusetts, it 
seems best to work on the following lines and this is what 
is now being done. 
"First, to clean up the worst colonies in the badly in- 
fested coast towns in order to prevent them becoming not- 
able centers of distribution within a few years. 
' ' Second, to clean up all the bad colonies near the border 
of the infested territory, to prevent as far as possible the 
spread of the moths into thickly wooded and sparsely pop- 
ulated sections of the state." 
On December 6, 1907, Col. Thomas H. Dearborn of Dover 
was appointed state agent for suppressing the gipsy and 
brown-tail moths and has since that time prosecuted the 
work along the lines above outlined. 
Present Condition in New Hampshire. 
The conditions in the most badly infested towns, as reported by Mr. Mer- 
rill, are briefly as follows: 
SEABROOK. 
This town was scouted early in the fall of 1906 while the foliage was still on 
the trees, and it is extremely probable that many infestations were missed. 
It is also highly probable that much of the woodland in the southern portion 
of the town is infested, as Seabrook is nearer than any other New Hampshire 
town to the worst district in Massachusetts. The true condition of the town, 
like the others in this vicinity, will not be known till the government has 
thoroughly scouted it. 
HAMPTON FALLS. 
Hampton Falls should be in a better condition than its neighbors, as it is 
the only town in the state that has independently fought the gipsy moth. 
During the spring of 1907 two experienced men were employed by the town 
to examine carefully all suspected localities and find and destroy all egg 
clusters of the .gipsy moth. As the work of the government scouts during 
the preceding tall had been done quickly and when the leaves were on the 
trees, these men employed by the town had no difficulty in locating and treat- 
ing several new colonies. 
The worst colony thus far discovered in the state is located at Healcv's 
Island in Hampton Falls and was brought to the attention of the state 
inspector about September 1. Healey's Island is a scrub oak island in the 
marsh, about two acres in extent, and is used by the farmersof this region as 
a base for conducting their salt marsh haying operations. From this it is 
evident that unless this colony is decisively dealt with during this winter it 
will become a notable center of distribution during next summer. 
HAMPTON. 
Although no very large colonics are known at present to exist in Hampton, 
orchards east of the Boston and Maine Railroad are generally infested and 
should be closely watched during the next few years. 
