Proce:kdings Fip^th Annuai, Meeting 43 



Application of Mechanics to Mosquito Control 



BY HAROIvD I. EATON^ ATEANTIC CITY 



In discuissing the application of mechanical methods to mos- 

 quito-control work, it is necessary to confine the attention to the 

 work on, the salt marsh, as the drainage of the salt marshes bor- 

 dering the Atlantic Coast is our immediate problem and one of 

 large dimensions. 



I do not mean to imply that there is little tO' say about mechan- 

 ical methods applied to the drainage of fresh-water swamps for 

 the elimination of the fresh-water varieties of mo'squitoes or that 

 there is no room for improvement in the tools and machinery 

 employed, for there is. We must remember, however, that we 

 have the entire agricultural forces of humanity deeply interested 

 in the reclamation of all swamps or wet waste land's for produc- 

 tive purposes and therefore constantly on the lookout for im- 

 proved methods of doing the work. On the other hand, bear in 

 mind that in the entire country, including the membership O'f this 

 association, there are probably not five thousand people vitally 

 and public spiritedly interested in the drainage of salt marsh for 

 the purpose of mosquito elimination. 



It has been pointed out to us; by various experts that we have 

 in our salt marshes immense agricultural possibilities. That they 

 will at some future time be reclaimed and cultivated is not dis- 

 puted, but this time will not come until the density of population 

 demands it, or until the fertility of the soil is recognized and ap- 

 preciated. The drainage work which has been done by farmers 

 for the increase of salt hay yield is entirely inadequate for mos- 

 quito control and in most cases all efforts at maintenance ceased 

 years ago, so that the ditches are now a menace rather than a 

 benefit. For the present, then, we can look for improvement in 

 methods only from within, from tho'Se few who are interested in 

 the drainage of salt marsh for the purpose of mosquito control 

 and from the still smaller number of those who understand the 

 problem in all its aspects. 



A brief history of the progress that has been made may be of 

 interest and will bring us to the present status. The first mos- 



