28 ALASKA. 



as to bear a man from the 25th to the 28th ot" October, with the exception of 

 the vear 1878, when a strong wind took the ice out, and it did not freeze again 

 until the 10th of November. Up to the 15th of October, vessels could enter 

 here without danger of meeting ice. In the spring, much more uncertainty 

 exists, as to a great extent the date of open water depends upon what the 

 prevailing winds may be. Long-continued north winds, following a severe 

 winter, as in 1880, may keep the ice barrier in until the 20th of June, and it 

 has even remained until nearly the 1st ot July; but these late dates are excep- 

 tional. As a rule, the ice will be thoroughly broken up and a strong vessel 

 mav enter Norton Sound through the ice by the 10th of June. Between the 

 20th of June and the 1st of July may be called safe dates for any vessel except 

 in an unusual season, as during a large part of June fine weather prevails. 



As in most other places under high latitudes, there is no long gradation from 

 season to season, but instead we have two well-marked periods — a long winter 

 of about seven months, extending from October until well into May, and five 

 months of summer. The winter is by far the best, as there are long periods of 

 beautifully clear days, which are welcomed in spite of the usually accompanying 

 intense cold. The summer is rendered very disagreeable by a large number of 

 cold, misty rains, and the low overhanging stratum, which appears to shut 

 down all about like a leaden covering. 



As a natural result of these climatic conditions, the warm 

 weather brings swarms of mosquitoes. Mr. Petroif says (speaking 

 especially of the Kuskokwim region, although the same complaint 

 is made by travelers in other sections): 



. There is a feature in this country which, though insignificant on paper, is to the 

 traveler the most terrible and poignant infliction he can be called upon to bear in a 

 new land. I refer to the clouds of bloodthirsty mosquitoes, accompanied by a 

 vindictive ally in the shape of a small poisonous black fly, under the stress of 

 whose persecution the strongest man with the firmest will must either feel 

 depressed or succumb to low fever. They hold their carnival of human tor- 

 ment from the first growing of spring vegetation in May until it is withered by 

 frosts late in September. Breeding here as they do in the vast network of slough 

 and swamp, they are able to rally around and to infest the wake and the prog- 

 ress of the explorer beyond all adequate description, and language is simply 

 unable to portray the misery and annoyance accompanying their presence. It 

 v/ill naturally be asked. How do the natives bear this ? They, too, are annoyed 

 and suffer, but it should be borne in mind that their bodies are annointed with 

 rancid oil ; and certain ammoniacal vapors, peculiar to their garments from 



