15* 



The President — We have here a representative from Connec- 

 ticut, whom we shall be happy to hear, Mr. Buttrick. 



Mr. Buttrick — Mr. Chairman and members of the New Jer- 

 sey Mosquito Extermination Association: It has been a great 

 pleasure for me as a mosquito exterminator engaged largely in 

 consulting work to be at these meetings and listen to the many 

 excellent papers describing your work, particularly those con- 

 cerning its engineering aspects, for it is evident that they are not 

 so simple as was thought a few! years back. 



It is also very pleasing to hear that you are already considering 

 the question of the ultimate use to which the salt marshes are to 

 be put. Whatever this may be it seems evident that it -will 

 require some form of complete reclamation. When this is en- 

 tirely finished we shall have won a final victory over the salt- 

 marsh mosquito, banishing him for all time and turning his 

 breeding grounds into' a resource whose potentiality for agricul- 

 ture, grazing, and, in some localities, community development, 

 is beyond estimate. 



As to the mosquito situation in Connecticut, where most of 

 my work lies : Our State has always looked to New Jersey for 

 its inspiration regarding the mosquito* problem — doubtless be- 

 cause it has not been such a serious one with us, for if it were 

 we should have had to have solved it or moved out of the State. 

 Ojur problem, like yours, is largely that of the salt-marsh mos- 

 quito. 



Our work is not yet as well organized as yours. Until 191 5 

 the only State laws on the subject treated it as a local public 

 health matter and have given local health boards certain powers 

 to cause abatement of breeding places near human habitations. 

 The last Legislature, however, authorized the Director of the 

 Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station to make surveys 

 and to authorize and direct mosquito' drainage and other remedial 

 work. The communities in which such work is located are re- 

 quired to maintain it. Unfortunately this act carried no> appro- 

 priation and the Director could hardly have been expected to 

 pay the bills out of his own pocket, so such work has been 

 financed by the local communities or voluntary associations and 



