90 N. J. Mosquito Exte^rmination Association 



Progress in Mosquito Control in Nassau County, L. I. 



BY WII.UAM V. BKCKER^ CHIEF ENGINEER, NASSAU COUNTY 

 MOSQUITO EXTERMINATION COMMISSION, FREEPORT, U I. 



Anti-mosquito work has been going on in Nassau County 

 since 1900. Altho'Ugh these early efforts were purely local and, 

 in many cases, somewhat intermittent, they nevertheless in- 

 cluded such projects as the historical malarial survey of the 

 north shore in 1901 by Prof. Davenport, Mr. Weeks and others, 

 for the North Shore Improvement Association, and the work 

 of the Rockaway Peninsula Mosquito Extermination Associa- 

 tion in 191 5 and 1916, both of which stand as monuments to 

 private efforts to exterminate mosquitoes. Naturally, the Nassau 

 County Commission upon its organization in 191 6 fell heir to 

 the work of the various private organizations and has since 

 carried on that work. The change of viewpoint f romi that of a 

 local effort to that of mosquito extermination on a county-wide 

 basis tended to cause a slight feeling of dissatisfaction during the 

 first stages of the work. Many local projects, despite their in- 

 trinsic worth, could not be carried through at once. Other prob- 

 lems affecting a greater number of people or, as in the case of 

 the salt marsh, the entire county, had tO' be given priority of 

 attention. 



In spite of the many years that anti-mosquito work has been 

 carried on in this county, and due undoubtedly to the strictly 

 local charactetr of these efforts, a decided feeling of scepticism is 

 still encountered in many quarters. The mosquito has scourged 

 the native of Long Island so long and sO' unmercifully that 

 without it he would not feel at home. A campaign of publicity 

 through the medium of illustrated lectures, bulletins and news- 

 papers will no doubt convince the majority of the doubters. Nor 

 should it be a difficult matter. There are few sections in this 

 part of the country that would derive such benefit from a success- 

 ful drive against the mosquito as would Long Island, and, in 

 particular, Nassau County. Its miles of beautifully wooded hills 

 along the sound, its miles of splendid beaches along the Atlantic, 

 its fertile soil, its healthful climate, all within a short ride from 



