306 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



The flies continued exceedingly troublesome, particular- 

 ly 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 punc- 

 tured 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, etc., etc., 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 dis- 

 cover a practical means for repelling these vampires, they 

 would earn the good-will 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 



