The wealthy summer residents along the north shore of Long Island,
keenly alive to the necessity of driving mosquitoes from the region
where they spend so much of their time, have attacked the problem in a
scientific, as well as an energetic way. The North Shore Improvement
Association intrusted the work to Henry Clay Weeks, a sanitary
engineer, with whom was associated, as entomologist, Prof. Charles B.
Davenport, Professor of Entomology at the University of Chicago and
head of the Cold Spring Biological Laboratory; also F. E. Lutz, an
instructor in biology at the University of Chicago. Prof. N. S.
Shaler, of Harvard University, the most eminent authority in the
country on marine marshes, was retained to make a special examination
of the salt marshes with a view to recommending the best means of
eliminating what were the most prolific breeding grounds of
mosquitoes. A detailed examination of the entire territory was made.
Practically every breeding place of mosquitoes, including the smaller
pools and streams, and even the various artificial receptacles of
water, were located and reported on. Mr. Weeks, with his assistant,
then examined each body of water in which mosquito larvae had been
found, with a view to devising the best means of preventing the
further breeding of mosquitoes in these plague spots. Finally, a
report was prepared, together with a map on which was located every
natural breeding place.
_Investigations in Connecticut_
Important investigations have been made in Connecticut by the
Agricultural Experiment Station, under the direction of W. E. Britton
and Henry L. Viereck, and the results have been most encouraging. Dr.
Howard, in his directions for fighting mosquitoes, acknowledges his
indebtedness to the very successful experiments carried on at Staten
Island. Maryland is aroused to the point of action. Dr. Howard A.
Kelley, of Johns Hopkins University, is to cooeperate with Thomas B.
Symons, the State entomologist, in carrying the war to the shores of
Chesapeake Bay. "Home talent," moreover, can accomplish much. To fight
intelligently, let it not be forgotten that the battle should be
directed against the larvae. These wrigglers are bred for aquatic life;
therefore, it is to all standing water that attention should be
directed. Mosquito larvae will not breed in large ponds, or in open,
permanent pools, except at the edges, because the water is ruffled by
the wind. Any pool can be rendered free from wrigglers by cleaning up
the edges and stocking with fish. Every fountain or artificial water
basin ought to be so stocked, if it is only with goldfish. The house
owner should not overlook any pond, however small, or a puddle of
water, a ditch, or any depression which retains water. A half-filled
pail, a watering trough, even a tin receptacle will likely be
populated with mosquito larvae. Water barrels are favorite haunts for
wrigglers.
_A Simple Household Remedy_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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