SALMON FISHING IN LABRADOR. 185 



dozens of essays will be made before one is successful. 

 The manner of performing their ascent is a proof 

 of the immense Telocity, strength of body, and 

 enormous power, with which they are gifted ; from 

 six to eight feet can be accomplished by them/ and 

 I have heard many persons assert more. When once 

 the fish gain the summit over the edge of the upper 

 bend, a few spasmodic, rapid motions of the tail carry 

 them forward, and they disappear from view so suddenly 

 as to leave the beholder in doubt whether they have 

 succeeded, or been carried down in the surging fall. 



The flies continued exceedingly troublesome, particu- 

 larly a small species of sand-fly. So minute are they 

 that when on your hand it is almost impossible to 

 detect their exact situation ; but however insignificant, 

 their powers of torture are intense, for immediately 

 after they have punctured the skin, a small water- 

 blister rises, which smarts as acutely as a burn from 

 the application of nitric acid. 



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 exposed to the atmosphere ; fish- 

 oil and oil of tar retain their virtue a little longer, but 

 they require too frequent applications for one engaged 



