42 N. J. Mosquito Extermination Association 



for the Mosquito Commission. The episode reminds me of the 

 big brother assuming parental control of the younger brother. How- 

 ever, after airing of criticisms, the mistake was corrected, and 

 probably the less said about the matter the better. 



The Commission has addressed itself assiduously to the task as- 

 signed them, and while some may think they could have done bet- 

 ter, the results, we believe, have been satisfactory and have met 

 public approval. 



It can scarcely be justly charged with lack of business sagacity 

 or acumen, when the cost of ditching, which is the chief weapon 

 in the warfare against the mosquito, has been reduced under nor- 

 mal conditions some 100 per cent by specially devised machinery 

 and apparatus. 



We will proceed with the six topics as outlined on the Official 

 Program. 



I will treat them briefly and refer you to the printed report for 

 1918 for details. 



No. 1. 5,458,775 feet of ditches dug on mosquito breeding area 

 covering 18,756 acres. 



The territory covered was from Leeds Point Road on the north 

 to Great Egg Harbor Bay on the south, from edge of upland to 

 beach, except Brigantine Island, also east and west sides of Great 

 Egg Harbor River. 



No. 2. 1,124 acres of meadow drained by installation of 407,839 

 feet of ditches, about 165,000 feet of which was placed on the salt 

 marsh area lying south of the Longport-Somers Point Boulevard, 

 which, prior to 1917, was considered non-breeding meadow, and the 

 balance of the footage was placed on the west side of the Great 

 Egg Harbor River, above the mouth of Middle River. 



No. 3. Of all the problems encountered the past season, that 

 of labor was the most serious. Meadow work is, as you know, 

 of a strenuous character. With two leading plants in the coimty 

 where big pay for little work was the rule, our situation was em- 

 barrassing. Sufficient laborers were unobtainable to effect the 

 necessary cleaning of ditches before the breeding season for sol- 

 licit ans. To add to our discomfiture, the highest tide for 30 years 

 occurred, causing unusual ditch obstruction. We were obliged to 

 stop the machines and divert all labor to the work of cleaning. Not 

 until June first were we able to start the first machine. The balance 



