The New York herald., 1922-07-12
WOLVES OF THE AIR !
AGAIN RAID JERSEY.
Rains Restore Breeding
Places of Nearly Extinct
Mosquitoes.
CITIZENRY In PERIL
Pathetic Appeals Received
for Protection Against
Night Raiders.
APPEALS FOR KEROSENE
It's Almost Like Old Days
When Pests Drowned Lo-
comotive Whistles.
APPEALS FOR KEROSENE


Until the recent persistent rains that
fell alike upon the just. the unjust
and the inhabitants of New Jersey,
there were any number of growing
children in near Jersey who could
have looked father in the eye and said
they had never seen a mosquito. Such
had been the adequate use Of mo-
squitocide-crude oil largely-that the
culicid dipterous little devils of the air
had pretty nearly deserted the swamps
between Jersey City and Newark, a
famous breeding ground. and had
zoomed away no man knew whittier.
But they are back, back by trillions
and quadrillions. The night air car
ries an incessant humming as they
settle upon terrified citizens and bore
through skins thick as leather. Ac-
cording to Pisistratus Pifcaflly of 6s42
Unionsuit street, Jersey City, several
mysterious disappearances Of the last
month were really due to unarmed
travellers being caught out among the
marshes and utterly consumed before
they could summon help. Mr.. Pifca-
filly, well known canary bird dealer
of West Jersey City, Is heading citi-
zens' movement to arouse the Mo-
squito determination Commission OF
the State to realization of the perils
to life, and to go to the Governor if
necessary.
Just Scratch and Cuss.
He said yesterday that virtually all
the little ones of Hudson and Bergen
counties look as II they were suffering
from measles, and life in these counties,
particularly after sunset. Is just one
scratch and cussword after another.
Oaly a few years ago there were so
many mosquitoes in the fiat and marshy
lands Immediately across the North
River that the pests could have picked
up the whole country and carried 1t
away If they had had any place to
take 1t and hadn't believed in the en-
couragement of home industries. In
those days you couldn't hear Erie
trains whistle for crossings because OF
the uproar made by the 3S6 varieties
of mosquitoes that had their habitat
thereabcut, and innumerablel hospital
cases caused emergency runs by ambu-
lances. Blood TRANSMISSION was often
necessary to replace the enormous
quantities of the vital fluid extracted
from individuals, and there are many
moving and beautiful instances of the
unselfishness of persons thus lending
their blood to victims of the flying
wolves of the Jersey marshes.
About ten years ago there were
number of gun clubs whose members
scorned to shoot at pigeons or blue
rocks, but who were accustomed at
twilight and at infinite risk to them
selves--a most sporting enterprise-to
shoot mosquitoes over the reed pools.
Mr.. Pifcaflly said yesterday that he
had been a member of one such club.
and that it was no uncommon thing
to use both barrels of twelve gauge
shot gun on a single mosquito
Kerosene's EAiciency Found.
Then some scientific sharp discovered
that kerosene was highly distasteful to
mosquitoes that they couldn't exist,
in fact. wherever oil has been spilled.
The big hint came from General Cor
gas's work at the Canal Zone and the
Jersey towns and villages took ad-
vantage of it with loud cheers. They
smeared the marshes from end to end
with crude oil until one had the sensa-
tion in passing rapidly over these
swamps THAT he was in the Texas oil
fields. The breeding places were filmed
with oil and the propagation OF the
fierce night raiders was virtually ended
About 1917 it got so the mere zoonins
of a stray mosquito attracted crowd
as il a mad dog had been found, or as
IL the Siamese twins had come pack
Mosquitoes were rare inueeu' anu
young children had to be shown pic
| lures of them to get any proper under
standing of the history of their State.
Then came the recent rain-raoin,
rain. rain. Day and night the water
I fell washing away the best efforts OF
the state Mosquito determination Com
mission and forming innumerable fresh
| pools in swampy places, making new
breeding spots faster than they could be
discovered and treated. The result aftei
only a few weeks was that the mosquitoes
were back in clouds and Jerseymen, ter
rified, turn now to the State authorities
for help. The police, of course. are as
helpless as the militia and the firemen
can do good only In spots. It's Johnny
the oil man who has to be relied upon
GO beat the pests. Lewis E. Jenkins,
head of the Hudson County Externina-
ton Commission made q public appeal
Yesterday to all citizens to rally against
the invading armies of mosquitoes, to
search out swampy places and II the,
can't put down oil themselves to report
the peril Immediately. Mr.. Jenkins ad-
mitted mosquito hordcs have about over
whelmed Hudson and Bergen counties
and the suctorial atrocities committed
nightly are enough TO make one shudder.
Mr.. Jenkins said the famales were the
worst--that no Jerseyite had any chance
whatever with she mosquito and that
the present war was mostly against the
females of the species
II would take thousands of gallons of
oil, Mr.. jenkins said, but 1t would have
to be got. whatever the cost, IL the pop
ulation Of two counties were to survive
another fortnight. War correspondents
are present on the scene from the New
ark Ne,os, the Hudson County Observer
and other journals of the region.