Proce:e:dings of Fii^TH AnnuaIv Me^eting 25 



Without making accurate surveys we estimate that this work 

 has drained 3,500 acres of the salt marshes in the southern end 

 of the county. We were very fortunate in securing a good crew 

 of men and have kept them at work all the time when work was 

 possible. 



The summer of 19 17 has been a severe test of the faith of 

 those who are not conversant with the habits O'f the mosquito and 

 the work being done for their control. 



When there is a combination of heavy rains and high tides, it 

 taxes any system of drainage, however perfect, to^ carry off water 

 in the time it takes the mosquito toi pass from egg toi adult. 



There were three of these combinations this summer, one 

 which caused a brood that got off July 1 5 and this was followed 

 by another August 20. And the other appeared September 20'. 



The meadows have been patrolled frequently by our superin- 

 tendent, and breeding conditions noted, and we know that such 

 mosquitoes as reached the adult stage on the drained area of 

 Ocean County, or the part north of Manahawkin, were com- 

 paratively few and would not have been commented upon had it 

 not been for the terrible flights from the undrained marshes. 

 The spots on the drained meadows from which these mosquitoes 

 come are known and will come in for an early treatment in 19 18. 

 Some have already been corrected. 



The large area that is still undrained in our county, with about 

 nine thousand acres in Burlington, and the same in Atlantic, all 

 surrounding the mouth of the Mullica River, embracing as it 

 does so much ideal breeding surface, was amply able to furnish 

 enough mosquitoes for the tremendous flights that bothered us 

 last summer. 



At the present rate of ditch cutting we feel that two more 

 years will see the remaining acres generally drained, but it must 

 he borne in mind that no system of ditching is. absolutely perfect. 

 New conditions arise, oauised by meadow shrinkage, growth of 

 vegetation, etc., and a complete patrol system will have to be 

 maintained, improving and perfecting the drainage, removing 

 stoppages, etc. The cost, however, once we get the main cutting 

 done, should decrease. 



The commission asksi the co-operation of the director oif the 

 Al^ricultural 'Experiment 'SItation, of the boards of freeholders, 



