N. J. Mosquito Extermination Association 109 



all the water in the time it takes the mosquito to reach the flight 

 state. Some of these breeding places were found by our in- 

 spectors on the drained marshes but not in numbers large enough 

 to be of serious trouble. It is a debatable question whether it 

 would not be to our advantage to dig double width ditches 

 through a great deal of our meadows, especially on the Bay 

 shore side where the condition of the marshes is such that the 

 ditches soon become blocked and make breeding places of the 

 ditches themselves. 



One of the great troubles we have, and which we presume 

 most everyone in mosquito control work has, comes from people 

 who wilfully stop or block the ditches, making the work done 

 of no effect, and at times a detriment not only to mosquito con- 

 trol work but to the marshes themselves. The ony way to reach 

 these people is through the local boards of health and this is a 

 very unsatisfactory process with only one sure result — that of 

 making enemies for the cause. 



We are now starting the season of 1922 with a greater amount 

 of the spirit of co-operation and enthusiasm than ever before 

 and with the dollar worth more than in the past few years we 

 hope to have better results, accomplish more, and make 1922 a 

 banner year in mosquito control. 



Secretary HeadlEE — I would like to say a word about the 

 Cape May County work, particularly certain peculiar problems 

 that appear in the Cape May County work. 



Along the shore, where the sea has pushed up enormous sand 

 dunes, the outlets to creeks which were at one time large enough 

 to admit sloops and small schooners, are now closed more or less 

 completely by every storm that drives in from the sea. 



These dues assume a position across the mouth of the outlet 

 and behind that dune will be an enormous marsh covered with 

 water. 



The problem, of course, is to get the water out. To do that and 

 allow the water to go out at every low tide that dune must be 

 pierced and the water given a passageway. There is no way to 

 keep that dune piercing open unless you dig it cut, because the 

 next storm across it will push the sand up and fill the opening. 

 It is an endless job to keep digging it out after every storm. 



The creek will usually run, meandering across the marsh. 

 When the ordinary drainage ditches are put in, somewhat after 

 this fashion, the water flows out, but there is no ditch flushing as 

 Mr. Reiley mentioned. The only ditch flushing that occurs is 

 from rainwater which apparently does not keep the ditches clean. 



