Proceedings of Sixth Annual Meeting 



63 



of sludge, consisting principally of silicates with a small percentage 

 of recoverable alum. This water is not markedly saline. It is 

 favorable to the breeding of Aedes sollicitans, probably because of 

 the action of the chemicals present, particularly their effect on 

 food supply. Breeding of sollicitans in this area undoubtedly 

 originated with migrations from the salt marshes lying further 

 down the Delaware and within the range of flight of this species. 



A total of seven genera and twenty-four species of mosquitoes 

 were observed during the past season in the territory under con- 

 sideration, all of which, with one exception, have been taken in 

 New Jersey. Aedes curriei, which was taken in considerable num- 

 bers during June and again in late August and early September, 

 has not been previously reported for the eastern United States. 

 Its normal geographic distribution is in the semi-arid regions of 

 western United States and Canada, where it usually breeds in 

 shallow rain-formed pools. It resembles Aedes sollicitans in a 

 general way, having, however, a rather uniform grayish appearance 

 when seen on the wing. 



The beneficial results during the past summer of this co-opera- 

 tive mosquito eradication project were striking. In former years 

 conditions were often so bad that it was virtually impossible to 

 work at night. During the summer of 1918, after the disappearance 

 of the June broods of Aedes sylvestris and with the exception of 

 several broods of Aedes sollicitans at the salt works, there was an 

 almost complete absence of adults during daylight hours throughout 

 the territory. That here was also a decided improvement in con- 

 ditions a,t night is shown not only by the reports of trained ob- 

 servers but by unsolicited statements by officials and employees of 

 the various industries and by residents of the territory included 

 in the project. The preparations now being made to place under 

 cultivation large areas of land that for years have been unpro- 

 ductive of much else than mosquitoes, is another indication of the 

 effectiveness of the work. The completion of this project will 

 mean the return to productive uses of approximately 8,000 acres, 

 which as farm land will have a value of over two million dollars, 

 and as industrial land a value many times that amount. 



Secretary Headlee: Why was pumping necessary in the Hog 

 Island area? 



