CHAPTER III. 
MOSQUITO SURVEY OF TOWN OF BELIZE. 
Examination of the Water Receptacles. 
On September 1 8th, 1905, I commenced a systematic survey of the cisterns 
and other receptacles containing fresh water in order to ascertain the relative 
number, distribution and variety of mosquitoes. The first mosquito brigade 
consisted of Mr. Burchell, the Superintendent of Public Works, myself, and three 
native assistants. On the following day, September 19th, I organised two other 
brigades, one under the direction of Dr. J. H. Harrison, the Assistant Colonial 
Surgeon, the other under that of Dr. Heusner, both of whom kindly volunteered 
their sei vices ; both were assisted by three natives. Each party was furnished 
with the necessary utensils and bottles for collecting the mosquito larva;, with a 
ladder and with a special form known as “ Cistern Report,” which I had printed 
for the purpose. A return was made in this report of the kind and number of water 
1 eceptacles present in each yard, whether they were screened or oiled, perfect 
or imperfect, whether larvae were present or not. In a very large number of 
instances the adult Stegomyia mosquito was readily found sheltering in or near 
to the barrels ; where this was not the case, samples of the larva were taken 
to the laboratory and allowed to develop into the mosquito, and the species 
then determined. The portion of the town first surveyed by Mr. Burchell 
and myself consisted of the poorest parts, situated 10 the west of the canal 
(the over-pond district), and reaching from the river on the north to Yarborough 
on the south. This portion stretched into the mangrove swamp, and very 
many of the compounds were under water. We found that the houses in 
this district had apparently been erected without any regard to building- 
regulations, and were often placed across the projected continuation of roadways. 
The number of barrels and oil tins in this neighbourhood was exceedingly 
high. We carefully examined no less than 578 barrels, all containing water 
and wrigglers. In no instance were they covered, nor had oil been put on 
them, at any rate in sufficient quantity to have effect on the wrigglers. In a 
large proportion of cases the Stegoviyia fasciata was present. The number of 
tins found was still greater, and in the large majority of cases they contained 
water and bred mosquitoes in great abundance. 
Some of the tins contained strong wood ashes solution, but we found that 
this had no effect in preventing the breeding of the wrigglers. We examined 
177 wooden vats, and found them all unscreened, and in a large number of cases 
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