LITTLE EGG HARBOR, N.J. -- During this past week of hot, humid weather, a mystery in one tiny New Jersey shore town kept everyone out of the water. But Little Egg Harbor residents are breathing easier now that a foul-smelling mystery is solved.

Over the past week, an 8-foot-by-10-foot blob affected nearly everyone in the neighborhood. Men and women stayed off their boats, and parents told their kids to stay out of the water.

Last week, the state of New Jersey determined the mysterious blob wasn't harmful, WNBC-TV reported. Test results showed it was algae or vegetative waste. However, it remained -- floating and smelling.

On Monday, it was cleaned up. A crew tried to lift the mass, but it broke apart as they put it into a net and tried to drag it out to the harbor.

However, residents are relieved that it's gone.

"We can fish, we can crab, we can go swimming. Before, we weren't allowed to do any of that because they didn't know what it was," said Joe Petrone, a resident of Little Egg Harbor.

Officials for the town of Little Egg Harbor say they -- and the residents who live right on the lagoon -- will keep watch. They said they will try and make sure the so-called blob doesn't grow again here any time soon.