N. J. Ad^osQuiTo Extermination Association 107 



Tides running in and out twice in twenty-four hours naturally 

 carry soft mud and ooze to the end of these ditches. During- the 

 short period of tidal rest this mud and ooze settles and remains. 

 So often repeated, the ditch soon becomes filled and useless, par- 

 ticularly at the shore ends. Freshets come, the water from the 

 uplands flow down on the meadows, and unexpected breeding 

 occurs. It should be ''the expected happens," because we have 

 failed to guard against it. 



On the blackboard the crooked line represents the creek or 

 thoroughfare which is the natural drainage, the straight parallel 

 lines the artificial ditches. The shaded line made with the flat sur- 

 face of the crayon represents the shore or upland. There is usually 

 a continuous flow of water from springs and seepage which keeps 

 the borders of the meadow constantly saturated and when the 

 freshet comes the water flows uninterrupted over the surface of 

 the meadow. 



Is it not logical to conclude that a shore ditch should be dug to 

 intercept these waters and direct them into these lateral ditches ? 

 This will bring relief from this burden and expense of ditch 

 cleaning. Let nature do' the work. 



If the farmer objects it will be economy to provide bridges or 

 pipes where crossings are needed. 



I am not so sure but these shore ditches should have first atten- 

 tion and make many of these long ditches unnecessary. 



Our problems are analogous, surface water flowing on the 

 meadows produce mosquito breeding. Flowing over our cran- 

 berry beds produces fungous diseases which are disastrous. ''Cut 

 it out." I thank you. 



President Meyers — We will now listen to Mr. William 

 Porter, Commissioner from Cape May County. 



Mr. W11.LIAM Porter — Cape May County, with its small pop- 

 ulation and its very large acreage of marsh lands, is still fighting 

 the mosquito pest with the same vigor and persistency as it did 

 six years ago when it first started this important work. 



The methods and work of this commission are a continuation 

 of those of past years and have been fully covered in previous 

 conventions. 



The importance of mosquito control work to Cape May County 

 can hardly be overestimated from an economic standpoint. Its 

 entire coast line is almost one continuous summer resort, enter- 

 taining thousands of visitors from all over the world. 



Early in the season of 1921 we divided our crew into three 

 sections and started to work putting our drainage systems in all 



