178 NEWFOUNDLAND CARIBOU 



avoid it, but it would not be quite fair if I failed to warn the 

 prospective visitor to the land of Caribou that he will be 

 pretty sure to encounter both black flies and mosquitoes in 

 objectionable quantities. Sand flies also will be found near 

 the sea coast and on some of the rivers and lakes. The 

 season for the black flies begins in June, and lasts with fair 

 certainty till September, and frequently on warm days until 

 well into October. I have been nearly driven mad by these 

 pests at times when the ground was covered with ice and 

 snow. The black fly fortunately confines his operations to 

 the hours of daylight, but the mosquito takes the next watch 

 with full vigour, even though he also likes to annoy poor 

 man while the sun still shines. His season is shorter than 

 that of the black fly, and he is seldom troublesome after 

 August. The sand fly holds forth mostly during the early 

 mornings and late evenings during the summer, and though 

 very small in point of size he makes up for it by causing 

 great annoyance. The question is, what should be done to 

 protect oneself from these pests ? A mosquito net of fine 

 mesh is essential if you would sleep in comfort, but during 

 the day-time when one wants to shoot, fish, paint, or merely 

 lie in comfort, a remedy is indeed difficult to find. In point 

 of efficiency there is nothing like the black oil of Stockholm 

 tar. It is disgusting stuff^ to use, but it gives peace. Some 

 of the prettier preparations of citronella and pennyroyal are 

 not so objectionable, but then they do not do their work so 

 well. Head nets keep out the flies, or keep them in if they are 

 not properly adjusted ; they are hot and bothersome contriv- 

 ances in many ways, and are by no means an unmixed blessing. 

 The hands may be protected by gloves, if you do not mind 

 wearing them, but they are only valuable if made long enough 

 to cover the wrist, for that is where the worst bites are 

 received. 



