57 



cost of la'bor it was necessary to secure a ditching machine if 

 we were to make any progress in the work. We were hardly 

 able with our limited appropriation to finance in one year the 

 cost of a machine, and we therefore joined with the Monmouth 

 County Commission to make the purchase. The machine secured 

 was made by Mr. H. L Eaton. The use of the machine was 

 divided between the two counties, and it was in operation in 

 Middlesex County for approximately three months. Our chief 

 inspector, Mr. Patterson, reports that during that time 154,800 

 f tet of ditches were installed at a cost of approximately one cent 

 per linear foot. The existing ditches were cleaned and some 

 31,000 feet of spur ditches were cut by hand. 



The machine proved a success, since the men learned its 

 operation easily and the ditches were as efficient as those dug 

 by hand. It is estimated that with six men to operate the ma- 

 chine as much work can be accomplished as fifty men could do 

 by hand. Since it would have been difficult to isecure this number 

 of men, the value of the machine may be appreciated. 



At the close of the past season the interest in the machine 

 which was owned by the Monmouth County Commission was 

 purchased by the Middlesex Commission, and as there is no 

 indication of an improvement in the labor conditions, we are in 

 a position to do good work this coming season, provided the 

 money allotted to the work is not too limited. 



The plans for next season contemplate the installation of 

 approximately 500,000 feet of ditching by using the machine 

 throughout the season. This will mean that our salt-marsh 

 problem will be well on toward completion, and that the activi- 

 ties of the Commission may be turned to the much-needed fresh- 

 water problem. 



Thus far our fresh- water work has been confined to the super- 

 vision of local anti-mosquito campaigns carried on within muni- 

 cipal limits and financed by the municipality. Three years of 

 this work have demonstrated that while our efforts on the salt 

 marsh have practically eliminated cantator and sollicitans as 

 pests, and that a systematic campaign will result in the practical 

 elimination of pipiens. The fact still remains that the invasion 



