Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-07-05
PEST IS FROM
CHEESEQUAKES
Prof. ]. B. Smith Writes to
the Evening News Regard
ing the Mosqui'oss.
AUTHORITIES NOT BLAMED
Says the Eggs on the Msa-
doWs at Morgan Hatchsd
Out in a Jiffy.

The present invasion of mosquitoes
in. this section comes largely from
waters at Cheesequake according to
State Entomologist John B. Smith.
In response to a letter from the
EVENING NEWS followed by one
from Health Commissioner Leo
Schwartz, asking the reason for the
large number of mosquitoes here
abouts, Mr.. Smith sent q reply in
which he states the weather condi-
tions have been such Of late as to
cause heavy breeding about Cheese
quake. He stated there had been
practically no broods there for the
past two years. When the several
days rain occurred the meadow was
consequently full of eggs and every
thing Matched quickly. The conse-
quences are now being felt.
No Reflection on Local Board.
Mr.. Smith makes it plain that the
appearance of the pest Is not due to
any negligence on the part of the
local health authorities. They have
poured oil on most all breeding
places hereabouts and generally Ia
ken every precaution to prevent any
breeding.
The EVENING NEWS recently
commented upon the appearance of
the mosquito pest here in It's editor
ial column. Shortly after that it
sent communication and a clipping
of the editorial to Mr. Smith, asking
the cause of the large number of
mosquitoes.
Mr.. Smiths Letter.
Mr.. Smiths reply follows:
New Brunswick, N. j., July 3, 1911.
Dear Sir:-Yours of the 30th uito;
together with the clipping is at
hand. First of all, let me as
sure you that your local Board of
Health is not at fault. Early in the
season one of my assistants was in
Perth Amboy and went over the town
with a representative of the Board.
The only discoyerable bad spot was
at once attended to and general IN
structtons were given as to what
should be done during the season.
l have in this mornings mail a
letter from Mr.. Leo Schwartz, and
am answering that to the following
effect
Your present invasion comes
largely from the Cheesequake and Is
a recurrence of the troubles that
were common enough with you be-
fore that meadow was drained. AS
you will remember the early part Of
the summer was excessively dry;
there was practically no rain during
May nor during the first days of
June. Then came period beginning
about the 9th or 9Th of the month
when for several days 1t rained day
after day and very heavily. Accom-
panying this rainy spell the weather
conditions generally changed; the
tides which had been running low
ran very high and there was drop
of little more than two feet be-
tween high and low tide, where or
dinarily there Is between four and
five. AS result of the heavy down
pours coming in almost every day,
the surface water from the elevations
surrounding Cheesequake Creek
came over the meadow in torrents.
1t was impossible to get the water
Off during the slight drop on the
low tides, and the result was that for
about 10 days there was a covering
Of water over the entire Cheesequake
area of about seventeen hundred
acres. There had been practically
no broods Matched on that meadow
for two years. The meadow was con-
sequently full of eggs and everything
hatched with rush. The conse-
quences you are suffering now. 1t is
one Of those mbinations that for
the present we are helpless against.
With the end of the continued rains
the meadow drained off completely
and was at last inspection completely
dry with not a mosquito breeding on
it. In fact, there are probably few
er mosquitoes on the meadow at the
present time than there are in Perth
Amboy.
Let me again assure you that the
conditions are not due to any neglect
of your local authorities. In any
ordinary season Perth Amboy would
have been practically free from mos
quito trouble, but combination such
as actually occurred no drainage sys-
tenn can conquer until it has acted
long enough to completely free the
marsh area from mosquito eggs.
That is not yet the case with the
Cheesequake.
Very Truly Yours,
JOHN B. SMITH,
Executive Officer