38 N. J. Mosquito Extermination Association 



During 1920, our boat patrol of the river produced very good 

 results. Breeding was much less intensive than it had been in past 

 years. What the future results of the operation of the Passaic Val- 

 ley Trunk Sewer may have on the physical condition of this part of 

 the Passaic River is problematical at the present time. From a mosquito 

 control standpoint, I do not believe it will bring about any improve- 

 ment on present conditions. At the present time, the low summer 

 flow leaves a large number of sludge islands in sight and along its 

 bank a series of sewage polluted pools. The continuous demand for 

 potable water from the Passaic watershed will cause a further reduc- 

 tion in the volume of water in the river, thereby intensifying the 

 present physical condition to some extent. In addition to this the 

 operation of the Passaic Valley Trunk Sewer will cause the diver- 

 sion of the sewage of the City of Paterson, which is approximately 

 17 million gallons daily. Many people are of the opinion that the 

 Passaic River will then be brought back to its original purity. I 

 am very doubtful of this. The continuous reduction in the volume 

 of water will intensify the present physical conditions in a more 

 aggravated form than they are now. 



Corner Catch Basins 



It has generally been accepted as a fact that the street catch bas- 

 ins were an economic necessity of civilization that could not be elim- 

 inated as a mosquito breeder, but changes in the method of sewage 

 disposal, as a result of the construction of the Passaic Valley Trunk 

 Sewer, seem to offer some expectation that eventually the street 

 corner catch basins of present construction will not be necessary — 

 that is, the catch basin so constructed that it retain about two feet 

 of water. This change is being brought about by the adoption of the 

 double or separate system of sewers which includes the storm water 

 sewer. My attention was called to this phase of mosquito breeding 

 places by the construction of a storm water sewer in a street that had 

 twelve catch basins, all of which were prolific pipiens breeders during 

 the summer months. Small receiving basins were substituted, which 

 retained no water and drained directly into the storm water sewer. 

 This change of sewage methods, if continued, will bring about the 

 elimination of hundreds of breeding spots that were the source of 

 much pipiens annoyance in large cities. 



Co-operation 



There seems to be an awakening interest in mosquito control work 

 in the smaller municipalities within our territory. We have in past 



