Samia to Toronto. 167 



proof boots or leggings. This is a great mistake. They are 

 the worst possible things for slipping on the stones and 

 rocks in brooks and rivers, and encumber the general 

 motions of the body. A good pair of dry worsted socks, 

 taken in the pocket to put on when the day's sport is over, 

 will prevent the chance of a cold, catarrh, or rheumatism. 

 When on a fishing expedition of several days, the sportsman, 

 living constantly in the open air, need not fear any of these 

 maladies. It is the change from a house to camp, or vice 

 versa, which is to be dreaded on this account. An Indian 

 will tell you that if he goes into a house and sits by the fire, 

 he is sure to catch cold ; so do you generally the first night 

 in camp, but by the next night it is all gone. The best 

 description of cloth of which the sportsman's clothes, whether 

 he be hunting or fishing, in winter or summer, should be 

 made, is the homespun cloth of the country. It is strong, 

 warm, and light ; and, when saturated with water, will dry 

 sooner than any other description. Flannel shirts form an 

 indispensable item in a wardrobe for the bush, whether in 

 summer or winter : but scarlet is a bad colour for any part 

 of a fishing costume. One of the best means of keeping off 

 flies and mosquitoes, is by wearing a veil of the finest gauze 

 fastened round the cap, and drawn in round the neck under 

 the chin. It forms a bag round the head, and even the 

 diminutive sand fly cannot penetrate its meshes, if the gauze 

 be fine. Old kid gloves, with the ends of the fingers exit off, 

 will be found useful in protecting the hands. 



The shooting throughout the whole of this western section 

 of Canada is much the same in all its localities. In Septem- 

 ber and October excellent sport may be had with woodcock 

 in the clumps of thick alder bushes standing in the meadows, 

 and in the swampy ravines on the banks of creeks or springy 

 ground. It requires, however, a quick eye and a good shot 

 to kill three out of four woodcock put up in the dense and 

 tall swamps in which they find covert. A drive on a fresh 



