The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1916-11-25
MOSQUITO SHOULD
be ERAD|CATED FROM
TIE GULF COAST
Says New Orleans Paper,
and Louisiana Conserva-
lion Committee Must
ASSISTANCE.
Inconsistent to Exploit the
Mississippi Coast Country
to North, East and West IF
the Mosquito from Louisia-
Ma be Allowed to Remain.

\ movement is about to be launch
ed for the raising and spending OF d
quarter of a million dollars to advertise
in the North, East and West the at
fractions of the Mississippi Gulf Coast
as a winter resort, says the N. 0. Dai-
ly States.
Cities and towns in Mississippi, Ala
bama and Louisiana, all closely in
touch with the Coast socially and COM
mercially, are to be asked to take part
in the movement, which, if successful,
will not only add largely to the winter
colony but stimulate the industrial and
agricultural development of the Coast
section.
But while this movement is excellent,
there is another of almost equal import
ance which cannot be overlooked if the
Coast towns are to retain their popu-
larity as the summer Rialto of this
section.
For many years these towns have
oeen comparatively free of mosquitoes
in the summer time. This was largely
due to the fact that the brush In the
marshes was burned and the prolific
breeding places of the mosquitoes des-
troyed. But the Louisiana Conserva-
ton Commission, out of excess of zeal,
saw fit TO prohibit any further burning
Of the marsh, and the consequence is
hat the mosquito pest has become al
most intolerable along the Mississippi
towns during the past two years. Both
last season and the season before many
Orleans families were driven PACK nome;
and unless ihe Commission is forced to
abrogate its order or the people along
the coast boldly ignore the order and
put fire to the brush again, as was their
custom, we shall see the Coast towns
l)se much of their popularity in the
summer time.
This foolish order of the Commission
deserves to be abrogated not only to
protect the comfort of residents Of the
Coast but as a health measure as we'll.
We are for any reasonable measures
which look to the protection Of bird life,
out not at the sacrifice of human life.
Some weeks ago DR.. Byron G. Hen
dricks Of New Jersey, an eminent scien-
list, spent month in an investigation
OF the different varieties of mosquitoes
in the Louisiana and Mississippi marsh
es along the Coast. He found no few
er than ten different kinds, and he de-
clared that these were capable of trans
mitting to human beings typhoid, teta-
nus, hydrophobia and charbon.
l learned during my stay on the
Gulf Coast, said Dr.. Hendricks, that
mosquitoes suck the sap from the
tender buds OF grass is food for the
mosquito, and they subsist on it.
Thorough drainage and the destruc-
ton of grasses in the marshes by
fire is the only way to rid the Gulf
Coast country Of mosquitoes.
What DR.. Hendricks says will not be
disputed. The mosquito is not only
nuisance but peril, and the only way
to remove the peril is to stamp out the
source from which they come.
Game conservation is a pralseWoFthy
undertaking of the State; hut the con-
servation OF human life is a higher duty
The Louisiana Game Commission cam
not afford to insist upon rule which
is operating so disadVantageously to
the Gulf Coast, where thousands OF
Louisianians go for summer recreation
and health, and We hope to see it antici-
nate the demand which is to be made
for the repeal Of the rule.