28 
ALASKA. 
as to bear a man from the 25th to the 28th of October, with the exception of 
the year 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 of July; but these late dates are excep¬ 
tional. As a rule, the ice will be thoroughly broken up and a strong vessel 
may 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. Petroff 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 
tra\ eler 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 
will 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 
