Proceedings of Sixth Annual Meeting 51 



Cape May County 



BY W. ML PORTER, COMMISSIONER 



In 1902 or 1903, when the first survey of the mosquito situation 

 was made in the Cape May district of Cape May County, it was 

 found that salt marsh mosquitoes were in flight, and the only time 

 residents of this district found relief was when there was a strong 

 breeze blowing from the ocean. Since the Commission started the 

 work of mosquito control in 1916, there has been a steady im- 

 provement until the past season, when only one flight of sollici- 

 tans was recorded and this took place early in the summer, shortly 

 after the great northeast storm which swept along the coast, had 

 so obstructed the drainage system that it was impossible to get 

 it clear before the first hatch. 



We claim that the greatly reduced mosquito prevalence observed 

 in the southern part of the county, during the past two years, is 

 directly the result of the mosquito commission's activities ; and that 

 the expenditures for mosquito control have already been repaid 

 many times. 



January, 1918, the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Cape May 

 County appropriated $10,000 to this Commission, which has been 

 applied entirely to the draining of salt marsh meadows for the 

 elimination or control of the salt marsh mosquitoes, the most num- 

 erous species in this County. As early in the season as the weather 

 would permit, the cleaning of the old ditching was commenced and 

 the men were kept at this work until all ditching, which was not 

 found to be in perfect condition, had been thoroughly cleaned. 



The breeding habits of the Anopheles or Malaria-carrying mos- 

 quitoes were kept in constant view. The location of a Naval Train- 

 ing Camp, Naval Air Station, Naval Hospital, Section Base and 

 an Army Hospital in the southern part of the County at Cape May, 

 and the concentration of enlisted men from all over the country, 

 called for prompt action to protect the men from any danger of 

 malaria, and to relieve them from the discomforts of the mosquito 

 pest. It is obviously impossible to put men through grilling hours 

 of training unless they have proper rest and sleep. 



The result of our work around the camps will be shown by 

 letters received from G. L. Angeny, Captain (M. C.) U. S. Navy, 

 in Command of the Naval Hospital, and from R. H. Thompson, 



