The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-11-02
SWAIN
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our barrier dune system deterior-
ated somewhat from natural causes
and a great deal of damage was
done to it by private property
owners, so that in recent years
great stretches Of beach were made
to be unprotected from the ocean.
Our drainage system also deter
iorated some and efficient drain
age in time of need was impaired.
The storms of 1854 and 1856 fin
ished the filling of bitches and
canals progressively, beginning
with the hurricane "Hazel". Grass
es and other plants were impair
ed by flooding from the ocean
but were largely able to recover.
However, it would not be wise to
expect such recovery repeatedly.
;"All of these factors have a
bearing on the salt marsh mos
quito. We have observed and also
learned that this mosquito egg
will hatch only where salt is
present in water in which it may
breed; that the egg may be laid
on the open sands or in the grass
but never in water as other types
of mosquitoes will do; that the
climate here will afford breeding
conditions during the entire year
since the temperature seldom falls
below the. So level, anywhere
above which the egg can hatch,
and that Matching will occur in
damp sand where the requirements
for,sueh Matching are met.
"over the twenty year period
discussed in this, letter the salt
marsh mosquito, although under. a
degree of control, was neverthe-
less present in varying quantities
because there was no adulticiding
or larvaciding program in force.
These mosquitoes laid eggs any,
where and everywhere, most of
which did not hatch, but being
practically indestructible, laid dor
mant until an opportunity to
spring to life presented itself.
"The opportunity to hatch ar
rived with the hurricane Hazel.
Salt water poured through every
breach in the barrier dune system
and in very short time inundated
many square miles of lands that
had not Heretofore been mosquito
breeding lands because of the alb
sence of salt in the soil. The ac-
cumulation Of years of normal egg
laying were subjected to all of the
prescribed elements and Dare
County experienced a very severe
bloom of mosquitoes. This popula-
ton, we have been told, was .abet-
ted by mosquitoes blown here from
as far away as the caribbean Is
/ lands. AS the ocean waters could
not drain off, the flood receded by
evaporation and by seepage which
left a high salt content in the soil.
Thereafter, the mosquito could
breed in ordinary fainwater which
previously would not afford pro-
duction. This entire process was
repeated during every succeeding
hurricane, and las damage to the
drainage system and the barrier
dune system progressed with these
storms, the effects of a mosquito
bloom were accomplished even aft
er a winter gale or a severe north
easter 'or a spring or summer
rain.
Economically, Dare County pro-
gressed as a resort area by leaps
and bounds Immediately after the
the last war and the promise APP
peared evident that this particu-
lar coast would soon become "a
travel and vacation mecca second
to none in North Carolina and
perhaps in much Of the country.
But this advance was at a time
when the mosquito was not men
ace. Now it is quite evident that
the mosquito can and will retard
this development and may hinder
advancement to the point Of dis
aster.
Property values have not suf-
fered from the mosquito to any
great extent because such values
were bolstered by the attempts be-
ing made in the county to afford
relief, but property sales became
appreciably slowed by this: menace.
Dare County suffered most from
cancellations Of reservations in our
hotels and other tourist facilities
and from people who shortened
their stay. The loss in dollar vol
liIne! NAV he rneasured in tho buo-