SALMON-FISHING. 317 



All the concoctions that I have ever used to repel these 

 pests have, so far, signally failed to give the desired relief; 

 oil of pennyroyal, camphor, hartshorn, &c. &c., are useless, 

 because their power evaporates the moment they are ex- 

 posed to the atmosphere ; coal-oil and oil of tar retain their 

 virtue a little longer, but they require too frequent appli- 

 cations for one engaged in exciting sport, as well as being 

 filthy and soiling to all you come in contact with, making 

 your approach most objectionable to your companions from 

 the offensiveness of the smell. If some of our numerous 

 ingenious chemists would set their brains to work and 

 discover a practical means for repelling these vampires, 

 they would earn the goodwill of all the followers of the 

 gentle craft. 



The fifth or sixth throw rose and hooked a fine fish, 

 which made me uncommonly busy ; he was remarkably 

 lively, and kept me on the move the first ten minutes. I 

 scarcely ever remember to have seen a salmon break water 

 so frequently ; after the first burst, with about sixty yards 

 out, he showed himself six or seven times, springing on 

 each occasion several feet clear of the surface. However, 

 these exertions told upon my foe, for when I turned him he 

 submitted to be guided till all surplus line was in. Through 

 a stumble which I made on passing over the rocks, I 

 accidentally checked him more abruptly than Mr. Salmon 

 thought was courteous, for off again he went with the 

 velocity of a steam-engine ; however, my tackle was strong 

 and hook well planted, and soon, a second time, I had him 

 under control, and by exercising a little politeness of the 

 give-and-take order, I brought him into shallow water. 



