Mosquitoes

Checking Pest in N.G.

A MAJOR problem of the Administration in all Pacific Territories is that of checking and, if possible, controlling the mosquito pest.

Measures that have been taken in New Guinea were briefly referred to by Mr. G.

H. Murray, Director of Agriculture in New Guinea, who has been recently on a visit to Sydney. Mr. Murray says that experi ence has shown that one of the most suc cessful and effective methods used against the mosquito is the introduction into all water, that might become a possible mos quito breeding place, of the small fish called Gamhusia, which feed on the larvae of the mosquitoes. The fish can live in almost any kind of water, no matter how stagnant or how limited in quantity; and the liberation of Gamhusia again and again has greatly reduced the mosquito pest within a very short time.

It is clear, however, that an open breed ing place for the mosquito is provided by dead leaves. The leaves curl up so that they hold water and in damp places, par ticularly in and about heavy timber, there is always water in the leaves. Investiga tion has shown that this very small quan tity of permanent water permits mos quitoes to breed. Gamhusia cannot live under those conditions and therefore the only remedy is to see that all dead leaves are raked away for a considerable distance around dwelling places. Mr. Murray says from actual experience that when this is done carefully there is a marked difference in the number of mosquitoes which haunt dwelling places. This method has been followed with marked success in the Territory.

Rev. H. B. Shelton, B.A., has been appointed by the Methodist Mission to work at Ulu, New Britain. Rev. P. Clark, of Western Australia, has been accepted for Rabaul. Before commencing duties in the Mandated Territory, both missionaries will undergo training at the George Brown College.