Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-10-24

resort for all time; that is. SO long as
tho proposed plan is lived up TO. Mr..
Rogers has given the matter much
thought and study and has finally sue.
ceeded in interesting the City Council
and Board Of Health of Cape May with
view to having the plan nut into
execution as soon as possible. As a
matter of fact, Cape May, on account
of its admirable geographical position,
having sea water practically on three
sides, IS not troubled by the mosq Iito
annoyance near 80 much as most other
large watering places. Whenever the
breeze is from the sea, that Is from the
east, west or south, Cape May has no
mosquitoes, and it is only the northern
breezes, which blow from the land,
that give trouble. Hence, 1t il much
easier matter 10 get at the difficulty
there than at most other places.
Mr.. Rogers lntsrest lies chiefly in
the fact that be and his family are the
owners OF the Marine Villa, one OF the
most popular hotels. and four cottages.
They regard Cape May ms their summer
home and, naturally, want It as oom-
Portable as possible. The mosquito
nuisance at Cape May is already down
to the minimum, on account OF its fine
location. and that fact has given Mr..
Rogers much encouragement. He has
believed all along that IL the mosquitoes
from the north conld be kept out Of
the city there would be none, as they
would come in from no other direction.
Some time ago he mentioned the
matter to Frank M. Jones of this city,
n member of the Delaware Society of
Nat Eat A.zI - Al L..-A
authorities in the State on such sub.
jects, and on Mr.. Jones' suggestion pro-
cured the reports of Dr. L. o. Howard
of Washington. government entomolo-
gist, concerning his researches reiativs
to the mesquite. He learned from DR..
Howard's works the experiments Of
State Entumologist Smith of New
jersey, and from his own investigation
that, contrary to popular belief, the
mosquito breeds only in still water,
either fresh or brackisn, and does not
breed in salt marshya growth orl salt
water. The female deposits her eggs,
about 400 at a time, on the surface OF
the water, where they float for about IS
hours, when the larvae hatch and enter
the water The larv@ resemble very
small tadpoles and are frequently seen
in rain barrels and steRnant pools. In
running water inhabited by fish they
do not reach maturity, being eaten by
the fish. Where there are no fish they
remain 10 the worm state for about 10
days, when they emerge from the water
as full-hedged mos uitoes. Therefore, II
the breeding places can be destroyed it
is possible to get rid OF the mosquito,
and Mr.. Rogers is of the opinion that
the result can be accomplished at Cape
May at small cost, and sumo of the city
officials to whom he has spoken about
the matter agree With him and are
giving his suggestions serious con-
sideration.
He has discovered that there are four
ways by which tho nuisance can he
abated, namely: To fill UP the bitches
and stagnant pools, doing away with
them entirely; to connect tie bitches
and pools with the sea, SO as to fill
them with sea water; to drain the
bitches and pools, SO that they will con-
tain only running water, and stock
them with fish, which will eat the
Larvae, or cover the surfaces Of such
bitches and pools with coal oil. 1t has
been found that the larve cannot live
in water having oil on the surface. as
they must come to the surface fire..
quently for air, and il they encounter
oil it kills them All OF these plans
have been suggested by Mr.. Rogers to
the Cape May authorities, and he has
presented the members of Council and
the Board Of Health with copies of DR..
Towards works on the subject, IN
order that they may profit by the
latter's Investigations.
Mr.. Rogers is OF the opinion that
what mosquitoes there are at Cane May
come chiefly from the bitches along the
railroads near the town. There are also
some pools which, he believes, afford
breeding grounds. He would like to
see all of the bitches and pools there
about filled in or properly drained, 40.
oording to the suggestions made, and
has recommended that the city authori-
ties prohibit people from having stag
nant water around their premises, as
rain barrels or other receptacles 10
which water is allowed to stan6 are the
best mosquito breeders. Wet cellars
also serve the same purpose, which
makes proper drainage necessity. He
is of the opinion that the health
authorities will impose such restrictions
upon householders as win abate this
sort OF nuisance and which will go a
great way toward accomplishing the
desired object, He has also suggested
that the authorities comm ission some
competent person, who IL conversant
with the habits OF the mosquito, to SET
that the bitches and pools in the
vicinity of the city receive the proper
attention and are kept free from the
Larvae by having such work done to
them as 10 Indicated above. 1t is bis
opinion that it all OF the poo's and
bitches for mile or 81 lack OF the CITY
are either filed in or properly drained
there will be no trouble at all from the
mosquito in the future, SO far as Cane
May is concerned, which will make the
| CITY even more attractive in the future
than in the past as summer resort
Mr.. Rogers has also communicated
with the State authorities on the sub
4 leot, with a view to interesting them.
In August he sent the following letter
to Prof. John b. Smith of New Bruins
WICK, N. D., the State entomologist:
| Dear Sir: am very much interested Ii
| your experiments on the determination O
| the mosquito, and being property owne
at Cape May, should like to try the expert
ment there. Gould you put me In communi
cation with some young enthusiast VIII,
would undertake. the job? As starter sen
each of the Cape May City Councilmen
copy OF Prof. howard's book. and think
they could be prevailed upon to make TIN
necessary appropriation. Very truly yours
John NJ. Rogers.
frof. Smith wrote Mr.. Rogers mos
encouraging reply, as follows:
Dear Sir: Yours of the LIST inst. at hand
have included visit to Cape May in m,
plans for the season, hut cannot get Their
until late in the month. The problem is
large one and l have not yet reached an
/ tIana ~, lNa K,,nAn ~ y.