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Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2002
New Jersey, as might be expected, has several tales about mosquitoes. The first settlers of Bergen County found the district overrun with mosquitoes, some of which were as large as sparrows. The Indians had trained them to inoculate game with a secret preparation that paralyzed the animal until the hunter came within arrow range. When it was found that insects which had been fed on white blood made better hunters, the Indians encouraged them to bite the settlers. The settlers retaliated by killing the chief's most valuable thoroughbred. He immediately mustered his warriors and attacked. During the height of the conflict the Indians brought up their mosquito fleet, and the Dutch had to sue for peace. Another legend tells of a group of men working all night in the salt works at the Manasquan River Inlet who were besieged by mosquitoes. The workmen crawled under a large iron kettle. The mosquitoes immediately began drilling into the metal; and as each proboscis appeared on the inside, the workmen would strike it with their hammers, riveting it fast. Finally, when a number had been hammered to the kettle, the mosquitoes simply flew away with it -- after which the test of the swarm made short work of the men.
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