THE THOUSAND ISLES. 193 
"We remained on the same spot, rowing ronnd until 
satisfied we sliould get no more, when we headed over 
toward the Canadian shore, into the far-famed region of 
Eel Baj. The latter takes its name from a ilj that is 
found in the fore part of July in immense numbers on 
the waters of this region. It appears to one who has 
small claims as an entomologist to be the May-fly or 
fiimous Green and Grey Drake of England. Some that 
I pressed and brought to the city were recognized at 
once by the English fly-makers, who were delighted to 
see an old friend, and made a number of them for me 
after the pattern, saying that there was but a shade of 
color between them and wdiat they had so often pre- 
pared as the May-fly at home. These flies appear in 
myriads ; when the wind is northerly, the waves will 
cover the dock at Cape Yincent with them several inches 
thick. Their body is long and so heavy that in the early 
morning, when their wings are damp with the dew, they 
cannot rise to fly and are readily picked up by their 
wings, which project invitingly above their backs. Eel 
Bay is named from the immense quantities of these flies 
that appear there ; they constitute the principal food of 
the fish from which they derive their name, as w^ell as 
of the cisco, black and rock bass, chubs, and probably 
many others. They rise with difiiculty from the water, 
and fly heavily and slowly. 
Our course carried us across the rapid current of the 
St. Lawrence, w^here my boatman was glad to have me 
haul in my lines, that dragged heavily, as there was no 
chance of taking fish. We were soon in the bay, an 
extensive reach formed by a bend in the St. Lawrence, 
9 
