Douglas Island news., 1899-06-07
The Douglas Island News.
THE ALASKA "sKEETER."
They Will Bore Through Anything, From Tent to Boiler Iron-They Are
 ThoToughbreds.


 ThoToughbreds. Budget.
 The New Jersey, Hoboken "galle- nipper'' has been commonly used as comparison in speaking of unusually troublesome mosquitoes, but since the discovery of the Alaska breed, the New Jersey product is out-classed at every point.
 The northwestern corner of America can furnish more varieties, sizes and colors of this little winged leech than all the rest of the country combined.
 The very minute the snow begins to disappear before the lengthening sun, that minute mosquito may be seen, and in sheltered places they continue to thrive until frost suspends opera tions of the numerous tribe for the winter. Technically the author knows nothing of their names or habits other than that they work both day and a night shift, are never satisfied, and will draw blood from either the bare skin or through an ordinary piece of under wear.
 Little tales of down East varieties are all thrown into the shade by the doings of the northern breed. Those in the East arc content to rest in day 1 light to a certain extent, but the Alaska tribe take particular delight in dividing their labors into shifts, and by common consent, the change is so made that it is not noticeable.
 With the exception of places where there are continuous winds, no spot is entirely free from them, and unless the utmost precautions are taken on the trail, or in the interior before retiring, night of extreme unrest is sure to l follow.
 Smudging out tent after carefully stopping up all the holes is a common practice, but unless you have learned to cover the pipe of your stove this is l ineffective, as the wary insect will find egress through the pipe and out of the stove into the tent. Ointments are eff 1 fective for a time, but for each new variety a taste is speedily acquired and ! the fattening little varmint lapghs and lives out his short life. Man is his special prey, and man is pursued and 1 tormented until his vocabulary of Oaths has grown to an alarming extent i'll this country, where our friends back in the states think snow balls and icicles form a goodIy portion of our diet every day in the year.
 Once let traveller get into a swampy country, like that immediately over the summit. and spend few warm cloudy days rowing around, unprotected by netting, and he will have tale to tell. Nothing protects except netting and gloves, and there are a few specially bred for the purpose of making the latter ineffective.
 In few years more this intelligent specie may conceive the idea of adding to the length of probocis and work at long distance through the head dress now so common. Blood they want, and blood they must have. Where they got it before man came, or how they found out that Mir. Man was the proper caper, is not known; but every mothers son of them will jump on one at once, pro- viding there is room. Sometimes few will have to await there turn, and in the meantime will softly serenade the victim, quietly cycling the fast filling stomachs of the lucky ones to drop in to the first opening.
 Yes, this skeeter questOn in Alaska is quite alarming, quite as perpleXing as the boundary line, the townsite matter, and several other minor details; but the little devils are beyond all human control, and always will be. They are little. but oh, my A noted professor is now advancing the theory that this is the insect age. It is wondered if he is a returned Klondiker, 'imbued with his Alaskan experiences. If so, he is pardOned.
 SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION.