44 N. J. Mosquito Extermination Association 



Middlesex County Mosquito Commission commenced active work 

 over 400,000 (four hundred thousand) linear feet of 10x30 inch 

 ditching had been installed. 



Middlesex County has a salt marsh area of approximately 8,200 

 (eighty-two hundred) acres. In 1914, when active work was started, 

 practically the entire salt marsh was a potential breeder. An appro- 

 priation of $5500.00 was received from the board of chosen free- 

 holders with which to fight the pest. The commission realized 

 from the start that the appropriation received was insufficient to 

 fight both fresh and salt marsh mosquitoes. The control of salt 

 marsh mosquitoes being of greater economic importance due to a 

 longer flight range, it was decided that the county funds should be 

 spent entirely on salt marsh work, but that the commission would 

 offer expert over-sight to locally supported campaigns, for the fresh 

 water mosquito. 



The commission has adhered to this plan. The close of each 

 year's work has seen the completion of some important piece of 

 drainage. Fortunately for the commission several important war 

 industries began operations on or near the county marshes. It 

 was considered fortunate because two of these concerns, the T. A. 

 Gillespie Company and the Raritan General Arsenal Depot offered 

 their support to help control broods of salt marsh mosquitoes on the 

 marshes affecting them. This offer of help was gladly accepted, for 

 it meant the carrying on of work that the commission with its small 

 appropriations would have been unable to have touched for several 

 years. 



County mosquito extermination work is now in its eighth year. 

 Salt marsh drainage is far enough advanced so that unless adverse 

 weather conditions prevail over an extended period, breeding can 

 be controlled by supplemental drainage or by the use of oil. 



During the summer of 1920, night collections on a large scale were 

 made throughout the county. These collections proved both inter- 

 esting and instructive. It was found that while mosquitoes were 

 a pest throughout the county, the salt marsh species were noticeably 

 absent except in certain isolated districts. 



Another condition, not as agreeable as the one just mentioned, 

 was also brought to light. Anopheles mosquitoes in alarming num- 

 bers were captured in collections made at New Brunswick, High- 

 land Park, and Piscataway Township. It was also evident that 

 these mosquitoes were not idle visitors, for investigation showed that 

 over 200 (two hundred) cases of malaria existed in the City of 

 New Brunswick. 



