Mousewheeling past a java applet

Hi:

I have a java applet on a page. It needs to be BIG. When I mousewheel down the page, it stops scrolling when the cursor gets to the applet. OK. I have to leave space on the sides of the applet and move the mouse so it scrolls alongside the applet, not over it. I understand the applet / page thinks the applet MIGHT need to capture mouse events, but I think it should wait 'til I click the applet.

Should I try to modify the applet code? Sounds like a not good solution. I thought maybe jQuery to intercept and handle the scrolling, but that seems like an unnecessary use of script engine and if the applet captures the mouse event anyway, it wouldn’t work.

What’s the best way?

TIA,
Mike